Happy Birthday to me! In retrospect of 2006.

Hello all my friends,

I have made it to my 29Th birthday. Of course, also to the end of 2006. We end this year with many things. The democrats taking the majority of congress, the deaths of James Brown, Gerald Ford, and Saddam Hussein, and me getting a year older. What a way to go 2006.

Today, I spend my time trying to tidy my house. It's a wreck. I have nothing planned for the day. I am baking my own birthday cake. Yeah. Hubby didn't plain anything for me today. Don't be too upset with him. I told him the only thing I wanted was phase two of my back piece. Of course he just had to put his foot in his mouth by saying the 254 dollar sink top I wanted for the bathroom was also my gift. Really. Especially since I compromised on everything for the bathroom, and even though we could have ordered every thing we wanted for it, I went along with his hurry up and get frenzy because the bathroom was gonna be done 3 weeks ago. Well, I think maybe even 4 now. So, I think the $254 dollar special order sink top that will be in in approximately 3 weeks is enough payback for the bathroom fiasco.

Wow. I'm not at all bitter about my bathroom.

I'm not at all bitter about 2006.

Today, I would like to reflect on my year. 1 Jan 2006, I became a civilian. For the first time in 5 1/2 years. My life was kinda my own. I was super psyched. I had so many aspirations. And then I began unemployment. Money was good, but it kinda depressed me because I had no qualifications for any job. So as the unemployment money dwindled away, I began to think maybe getting out was not the best idea. Hubby was grateful for it. He was I guess happy that I was home doing the "little wifey" thing. But, I felt empty. Worthless. Pathetic. I acquired 3 more cats and I had an instant little family. My babies kept/keep me on my toes. The brought light into the dank and dark world of Yokai. Yes. Dank and dark. While trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel , I developed panic attacks in large crowds (which I still get. Some not so bad and others well, let's just say those are my spectacular moments). A VA head doc told me it was PTSD. I still feel people watching and waiting for me, and sometimes my anxiety is a bit more than I can handle.

Needless to say, I got 60% disability from VA. So I'm dealing, but I still need to talk to someone. I'm working on that.

So being here in Mass hasn't helped. Especially being in Western Mass where everyone is liberal, well educated, and will spit on you faster than you could ever imagine. I still haven't made any friends. Maybe it's my new fear of others that keep me from that. Maybe I'm just an asshole. I dunno. I work in a bookstore where upper class, well educated people shop. Even more important everyone who works there is heading for something bigger and better. Me, I'm just stuck sitting on this stepping stone.

We couldn't afford for me to start Massage Therapy school in September. Real Estate was going well for Hubby. I don't think it still is. We don't say it, but if he hadn't been working at his Dad's company, the outlook for us would have been bleak. He puts in many hours and makes very little. He gets salary pay, but no benefits. I don't want to tell Hubby, but I don't think he is cut out for real estate. Then again, I could tell him, but I'm just the chic he married. What I say means very little. Now before you start thinking of him as a villain, he's not. I think he is a victim of his upbringing like the rest of us. Except his was not from a supportive and loving family. Well, maybe they express love differently. Mainly what I see from them is making the best of a really bad situation. I could be guessing. It's not like anyone would tell me if I was right or wrong. I'm probably gonna be disowned for typing this much. Dirty laundry should never be aired.

This is my blog. I type what I want. This is my therapy. If you are offended, challenge me and send me a comment.

With so little control in my life. I control this blog. As you can tell I'm not a fan of my in-laws neither are they a fan of me. I think I represent the outside world, and hence, I'm something not to be trusted or concerned about. I don't get told anything that has to do with the inner workings. I really don't know them as they don't know me. Unfortunately , it's gonna stay that way.

If I sound depressed today. Don't be in doubt, I am.

11:05pm EST

55 minutes until 2007.

I spent the evening with my in-laws. We went to Forest Park, and drove through the Bright Nights light show. It was cool. I wish the Christmas music would have been better. The rest of the evening, well, I'm still here at their house. It hasn't been bad. I've been watching them play the Nintendo Wii all night. I excused myself to finish up with this last entry for 2006. It has been a year. I would like to say some good byes to two people that left this world for great enlightenment :

Granny and Janelle Morrison. All though it seems that you have left us behind you have not. The greatest thing a person can do is to shed his or her mortal coil and dress themselves in spiritual ensembles. Beyond the plains of Earth is true enlightenment. Happy journey and see you when we too are ready to make the next leg of our path.

Happy New Years, my friends. Don't drink too much, but if you do, make damn sure your beverage is not named after a national disaster or a dictator.

Here is my last send off for 2006:


Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Poem lyrics of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost.

Lady Yokai

Two days left. 2006, your on notice!!!!!

Hi Guys!!!!

My tat is done!! She looks great! When the whole thing is over with, I will have to post a pic of my back. With all details, faeries, and background pulled together, this back piece is gonna rock harder than anything you will ever see on Miami Ink.

Today, the second faeries was put on my back. She gorgeous! Well in my sick little world she is. My faeries are tattered and torn and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! Next, the background images will be put on. A crooked and creepy New England tree will be added to include a peeping owl who will be sitting in side the tree, a stack of skulls , and of course, the ground. Maybe will throw in a couple of wilted rose petals. I wish I could show the designs so you can gather an idea of what will be pieced together. I'll work on that.

I also asked about covering one of my other tattoos. It was one I got while in AIT in AZ. It is a Western Midevel dragon who is sitting on a moon. It was cute at the time, but now it is hardly recognizeable. It needs an intervention. So, I am having it covered. A large dragon head ( W. Midevel) will cover it. The body of the dragon will wrap over the rest of my left hip, around my left side, and the tail will travel under my back tattoo and curl up to the right side of it. It will tie in beautifully. This guy at the tat shop is a thinker. I like him alot. So if you are ever in my neck of the woods an you won't some skin art, I will hook you up with this guy. I plan on getting the rest of my back done some time in late Feb. Right before I start Massage school since my evenings and Saturdays will be filled with class. The dragon I plan to start this summer around August. He will be done by this time next year. From there, who knows. I am open for ideas so send 'em.

So Hammerhead or the bathroom dude showed up today. He arrived shortly after I left to get my tat done. When I got back two hours later he and Hubby had gotten the cabinets for the bathroom wall. (We are having in-wall cabinets placed for more storage in the bathroom) It's the most work he has done in like a week and a half. They left 40 minutes ago to look at the sink/cabinet thing. There was some discrepancies about the size, whether it would fit, and if the hot water pipe has to be moved since the cabinet has drawers. Maybe they will come back before it gets dark. Doesn't matter. I'm typing and I will start me B-day cake after I'm done writing this entry.

Last night I started the third book in the Aisling Grey, Guardian series. I don't want to finish it because I don't know when the next will be out. This one, Light my Fire, is good. Real good. So far, I am 150 pages into it and I am in HEAVEN! After I finish this book, I will be starting one called Must Love Dragons, by Stephanie Rowe and then I Only Have Fangs for You, by Kathy Love. Both of these were recommended by Katie MacAlister who is the author of the Aisling Grey series so, I'm gonna go with that. Also a fellow Wiccan from work is bringing me the Nora Roberts' Circle series. She said I'd like it. I have time before Katie releases the next book so, sign me up. I also want to read some of Katie's other books.

Omigosh! So Hubby's back and he bought the sink cabinet-thingy. You know, the thing that WE were suppose to look at and get. Right. This is just so typical Hubby! He never lets me help make OUR decisions. It's like I'm just a fixture in this Goddamn house! Arrrrrrrrrr!!!! Breath Yokai. It's okay. Remember your Zen breathing. I don't think he even got the right color. But that's okay too. I'll just accept this. I need a drink. Anything but something named after a National tragedy. I got some Vodka in the fridge.

Hub's parents (another entry for the blog at another time) gave us a gift card for the resturant Pub 99. I hate that resturant. I hate the food, the service, the menu, the drinks, and the assholes who eat there. So maybe will have dinner there. Life is better through gin glasses. So maybe the food will taste better.

Anyway, I will say good evening,

Last year changed its seasons
subtly, stripped its sultry winds
for the reds of dying leaves, let
gelid drips of winter ice melt onto a
warming earth and urged the dormant
bulbs to brave the pain of spring.

We, loving above the whim of
time, did not notice.

Alone. I remember now.

--Maya Angelou ( In Retrospect)

Yokai

The last Friday of 2006

Guten aben meine freunden,

Das ist die letzt Freitag fur jaar 2006.

I hope I said that right. It's been a while since I have had to say anything in German. So forgive me if it's wrong. Feel free to send me the corrections.

I'm chilling with my Hubby at his office chowing down on hot crab Rangoons and General Tso's chicken. This is so not good for me, but it is soooooo yummy.

So we are done for workdays in 2006. Finito, done, bye-bye!!!! This week ended not with a bang, but with a sigh of disbelief and disappointment. The two D's that I love to end a week with by the way.

Work to a new turn for the worst as the Store manager announced at our morning meeting that the store will be going the "re-alignment." Which means we will see who didn't work out over the Holiday season and offer them the opportunity to try new things else where and shorten hours of everyone left. Also, we will move you from the position you have been working at for god knows how long and put you somewhere you have no frigging clue of. So if you have any input, you can submit it, but we probably won't listen because we make more money than you. Yeah, I think that's what "re-alignment" really means. Of course this girls hours were cut by 3 hours a day. There goes my extra spending money and once a quarter car wash at the local gas station car washer-thing-place. At least I get to keep my benefits.

Return heaven. I can understand returning a pair of pants that don't fit, the ugly sweater, the toy that wasn't wanted, etc. I don't understand why people return books. Okay, I guess to get store credit to buy another book they might actually read or whatever. Maybe even when someone gets the wrong character book for their younger kids. Hey, younger kids can't really/ don't really know they are being an assholes because the right character wasn't bought for them. Small kids just don't understand about human error, the effort to get a gift, or the point that the gift represents more than just a gift. Got it. They are excused. But people that return books because it was a book and not something else. Come on. Read. Or at least donate it to the local USO. VFW, Shriner's, Red Cross, homeless shelter, orphanage, retirement home, somewhere. Some people can't afford a book or get to one and would greatly appreciate it. I guess the same could be said about the ugly sweater. That's just a piece of Americana, though. It' s kinda the American way to give someone an ugly sweater. At least the people bringing the returns are a lot nicer than the people who bought the crap.

We are ending week four of our bathroom remodeling. Yep, it still looks the same as week two. The guy was suppose to be over all day today to work on it. He called earlier and said he had to take his son (the kid who is independent of parental supervision because that's what a 15 year old boy should be) to the emergency room. The kid apparently just stopped breathing. I'm think he was trying to commit suicide because he realized he had no choice, but the grow up and look and be like his dad. In that case, totally understandable. So the guy is suppose to be over tomorrow. Fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath.

Tomorrow I also will be getting my eighth tattoo. I don't know what I plan to do with it. I'm hoping when I go in tomorrow, the tat artist will help me crunch on some ideas.

I'm gonna close out with some Buddhism. Also a pic of my tat. Like it? Not the girl, the faerie.

Sillies,

Old friends pass away, new friends appear.
It is just like the days.
An old day passes, a new day arrives.
The important thing is to make it meaningful:
a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.

Tenzin Gyasto (the 14th Dalai Lama)

--TGIF
Lady Yokai

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to one and all.

As you know, I am the first to be upset with the generalization that everyone celebrates Christmas. But I will go on a limb today. Christmas has become such a general holiday over the past years and anyone can celebrate it's simple theme. While Christmas was originally dedicated for the birth of Christ, today it secular meaning is a day to observe good will and love of family and friends. Many people get together this one day out of 365 to spend time with people they have not seen in the last year. Or spend time helping those less fortunate. So I say, "Merry Christmas to one and all."

Ah. Today was a lazy day in the house of Yokai. Basically I sat on my pretty little ass (which is getting larger thanks to the destruction of the bathroom which has swallowed the comfort and functionality of my living room [the place where I work my butt off doing aerobics, strength and muscle conditioning, and flexibility] .) At the snails pace my bathroom is getting done at, I will never have that chiseled gladiator body I have been wanting the last 28( going to be 29 years next week) years of my life. But it hasn't stopped my devotion to Pilate's. Faithfully I have increased my Pilate's workout to make up for everything else I'm missing.

Not much to explode over today. I spent last night with the in-laws celebrating Christmas by eating cocktail weenies and opening presents or in my case a present. We also listened to Christmas music on, get this, a CASSETTE TAPE!!!! I know. Where did that come from? I know we own a turn table or two, but that is a classic sound you just can't get from 21st century technology. A tape. C'mon. For the first time since I've been married, I did not vomit en route to their home or leave their home feeling like I was the left over shit in someone's ass crack after a really bad case of diarrhea. It was do-able. And I didn't have to find out what Aisling Grey was doing. (Aisling Grey is one of my new favorite heroines. She is the main character from the Guardian series from Katie Mac Alister. Hint: my birthday is 31 Dec. I am half way done with the second book in the series and I cheated and read the last 3 pages in the third book (Which I already bought). I think, yeah, Katie Mac Alister is on my list of greatest people ever.

My stepfather shared a golden nugget of stupidity with me this morning. Since I had nothing planned to talk about, I'll share it with you! Thanks S-man for the Blog Christmas gift:

At a Church's Chicken in the Metro Atlanta area, a teenage wannabe gangster walks into the restaurant and orders a chicken meal.

Cashier: Do you want dark meat or white meat for your meal?
WGT: What?
Cashier: What kinda chicken do you want? Dark of white?
WGT: What's the difference?
Cashier: Hold up. Are you serious?!!!!! You don't know what dark or white meat chicken is?
WGT: No.
Cashier: Wait. Somebody else is gonna have to handle this.
S-man: Put a skirt on the chicken. Everything under the skirt is dark meat!!!!!

Today I thought I would talk about mi Kitties. Oh my lovable balls of fur. I think the love me unconditionally, but I really think it's because I feed them and warm up my bed for them. So, I was explain to S-man that they can be a pain in my ass. I let one out and 3 stand at the door trying to figure out how they can get out. I try to let her back in and the other 4 are standing in formation. 3 trying to distract me and one trying to break the line of scrimmage. Of course the one outside realizes she needs a blocker, but doesn't have it so for the next hour she play peekaboo on the porch. Makes me think that she wants to come in, but doesn't as soon as I get the door open. Bitch!

They are great. We have one that tells us it's time to get up. Another who tells us it's time to go to bed. When feeding time is and let's not for get the shower and feeding times. 5 cats are nothing. Except when they get sick. At the same time. Then 5 miserable kitties become 5 irritable toddlers. Oh, and they sneeze on you. Such behavior! But, they make my life what it is. Wonderful yet trying. Along with the sixth cat, Hubby. Who could ask for anything more.

Amongst the wreckage of our home. We did exchange gifts. The cats will get their six foot tower around the first of the year. I got Hubby a book on Dali (his favorite Artist/painter) and a book of Boris Vallejo artwork ( he also loves Boris's work) He got me this awesome claddagh bracelet to replace the one that was eaten by the escalator at work. I'm so in love with it. Finally. He is learning. I was so happy. I guess there is something to say about the air during Christmas time. It truly is one of the most magical times of the year.

So with that said. I will call a quits to this blog for the night. The feeding time cat has began the call to arms.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Lady Yokai and family

Off until 26 Dec!

Hi guys!

First of all, I just wanted to send much props for the new version of Blogger and a big "Thank Isis," for the death of Blogger Beta! Thanks to Blogger Beta, I will never use Internet explorer again. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

So Joyous Yule to all big and small. I haven't done anything today except feed my cats and work. I bought candles, but I haven't been home to, at the very least, burn them. Some Wiccan I am. Pff. Hello longest night of the year! On the ups, at least the days won't be getting any shorter.

I missed out on wishing people a happy Hanukkah. Sorry. I know. I had a whole week. Boy, I am so inconsiderate.

So I finally bought a pad so I can jot down my thoughts throughout the day. Some things are just to precious to forget and not share. So here is the one I have been holding on to for a day.

I answer a phone call from a frantic male customer.

"Do you guys sell gift cards? I need to buy a couple. Can I get them in any denomination?"

I tell the man on the phone we sell gift cards, and that he can put any amount he wants on them. Also I inform him that the cards do not expire, and can be used on the store website.

"Great! I will need three gift cards for American Airlines."

This is where I started doubting my sanity. So I ask 2 other booksellers to make sure the answer was no. I tell him that we only sell gift cards for our store.

"I have been told by several sources I could purchase American Airlines gift cards through your bookstore. Miss, why would I want to purchase a gift card at your store that is only for the items in your store?"

After that. The asshole hung up on me. Boy, if I ever get granted a chance to be there when Karma strikes him, I will not pass it up.

So there have been many other crazies to walk through our doors at 8am. Of course, our sister bookstores in the area didn't open until 10. So guess where their customers were and calling to at 8 am when decent folk are either working or sleeping. But hey, it's Christmas time. The time of the year when all the insane bastards who have been locked up all year long are allowed to roam freely to buy there Christmas gifts.

Of course, it's only those who celebrate Christmas. Not so much as those who take the time out once a year to do midnight watch, work in a soup kitchen, or a children's hospital. It is the work-a-holic that thinks a pretty package with a pretty bow makes up for all the missed soccer games, date nights, or even worse: family dinners. Those people who are so mainstream that they believe mainstream is them. You know, the ones who are too busy yelling at the butcher who is cutting their meat with pride, delicacy, and a slow professional pace because that's what he does best for quality. Or how about the asshole who cut off the ambulance because whatever the emergency is it's not as bad as his/hers. I could go on, but, I won't. I'm sure you get the picture. Let me just say, not everyone who celebrates Christmas is bad. Not everyone who celebrates one of the other winter holidays is perfect, but, ill-tempered people are usually out there lurking around and using Christmas as an excuse for their unnecessary nasties. Just remember, Christmas is not an excuse. It is a holiday. Good will to men.

So here is a Christmas poem to send you off tonight:

May You Find This Christmas Inner Peace

May you find this Christmas inner peace

Equal to the patient love you give,

Releasing all the pain you can release,

Renewing all the grace with which you live.

Yearnings may you turn to rhapsodies,

Choosing to find happiness in beauty,

Holding in their haunting melodies

Riches that sustain your sense of duty.

In anger may you find an evening star

Showing you the way to Bethlehem.

The angels that watch naked from afar

May you hear sing of who would none condemn.

As all you love are blessed in having you

So may you feel the joy in all you do.

(By Thomas Tallis. Sequenced by David Cooke )

See more poems from: http://www.poemsforfree.com/

Lady Yokai

Less than a week to go. Don't lose your head!

Geez, the holiday rush is wearing me down!!!!! I thought the ominous pic of this Stryker would correctly emphasis how I feel. No? Well, you can feel in your own emotion.

So as the days speed closer to 25 December, shoppers get less and less common sense. Since these are the procrastinators of the holiday, they assume that their lack of planning is some emergency in my world. I keep telling myself "think slow and move quick." Seems to be working. I have only been stressed out just a little. I giggle when I think of these poor people who are screaming, demanding, and or crying because Christmas is just next week and they could really use my undivided attention. The crazy thing is there are two others squawking the same song at me at the same time. Even as I'm taking a piss, women are in the bathroom asking me questions about our inventory. Come on. Some places are just sacred and are protected from consumer irrational shopping ignorance and blunders. Really. For that 45 seconds. I really could give two shits.

So the shoppers keep on. Grab every item in the store whether it is a good idea or just to satisfy some weird gift giving fetish. I mean really, who wants a mini kit of leprechauns? I think we are a couple of holidays off. Trust me. We are just gonna get more for St. Patty's Day. You don't have to stock up now.

We are beginning week three on the bathroom project. At this point, the contractor doing the work shows up for an evening therapy session, and not to work on our bathroom. Hubby is actually cutting sheet rock right now. The bathroom guy's new issue is his Aunt is in the hospital. She has emphysema and is not expected to make it through the night. Of course, this is a legitimate reason not to be of sound mind. But, the man has found a reason to burst into tears every time he has come over. I know it's bad of me not to feel sympathy or at least empathy, but his constant lack of work has just made me bitter and turned me off of his emotional issues/pity parties. So hopeful we will have our bathroom done some time this century. At least I hope.

I just finished reading Katie Mac Alister's, You Slay Me. I read a book from her while I was in Iraq and it was so good, I read it 2 more times. Granted, this is total brain candy. Demons, dragons, magic, and lots of hot sticky sex. Total brain candy for the over and under sexed woman. I mean seriously, me skivvies are totally soaked. Not an award winner unless you count the "Horny Chic" awards. So, buy it for your nympho female friends! :)

Other than a few other complaints about my farty cats, I got nothing. So I'm gonna close out with something good.

Yokai

I returned and saw under the sun that--

The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

And one more for the road:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bloodgeonings of chance
My head is bloody but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus
William Ernest Henley
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus)

Yokai

Been-a-while!!!!

My friends,

It has been forever hasn't it?

I didn't get a chance to write this week for several stupid-ass and inconvenient reasons:

We bought a new 2006 Mazda Tribute for Hubby. ( pictures to follow at a later time)

Holiday retail season is kicking my ass.

The guy doing our bathroom blocked my computer in with sheet rock. For 4 days.

So, currently I am using the computer at Hubby's job. It feels good to type to y'all. It's like starting up a conversation with and all friend. Well, I guess it is in a sense.

So, what new rants do I have to share with the world wide web. Let me think. I really wanted to buy a pad so when ideas come to me, boom. I can write them down.

A bit of info on my main guy Sesshomaru is that is his name means "destruction of life" or "destruction man" in Japanese. I just learn that today. Okay, not so much rant, but, there is always room for Sesshomaru in this blog. Deal.

The asshole doing our bathroom ( yeah, he has reached the rank of outta whack, emotional asshole) decided to take some time off, and not work on the bathroom. As I said earlier, leave sheet rock blocking my computer. I think the only thing he managed to do this week was put insulation up, which my cats seem to find fascinating. So today he came to put sheet rock up on the ceiling. Wonderful. At this rate, the bathroom will be done by the time I hit menopause!

Did I mention the outta whack and emotional part? Don't get me started. Why is it that these hard working blue collar type folks always seem to find skanky women? Let me give credit, not all of contractors, masons, carpenters, plumbers, etc. have truck stop or trailer park crack head, drunk skanks, but I would say at least 85% of them can't seem to attract in thing but easy yet trifling women. This guy here is aware his chic is a skank. Knows she is a drunk and a pot head. Also knows she has the education of a retarded hyena, oh and did I mention she could suck a softball through a garden hose (yes, I said softball)? But he still wants to hang on even when she tells him she wants to spend all his money, be a pain, and stay with her pot provider over the weekends. It's cool, because he is convinced if he is mean to her (not kick her out or dump her) she will realize what a good man he is. The only thing she is going to realize is her dumb ass sugar daddy is even stupider than she thought. Guys wake up. Most women like being pampered. If you get one that takes pampering from you and someone else, it's obvious you should move on. You are the girl of the relationship and you need to go on a pilgrimage to find your balls. Hence, he has been too emotional to work on my bathroom. Fucking pussy.

Work has been everything I expected it to be. Stressful from the gidgets doing their Christmas shopping and using the season as an excuse to be lazy, rude, and ignorant. Christmas is a day. It's a holiday, not a condition. If I have to ring up one more inconsiderate Christmas shopper, I think I'm going to write of civilians again. I mean really. A customer asked me for 2 $20 gift certificates and changed her mind after I wrote the amount on the card. So, I couldn't scratch it out, that would look terrible. So I re-wrote the amount on two new cards and gave those to her. So at that point, I needed to pawn of those two with "$20" written on them. The first one was easy. I love men. They are so easy to convince. I told that guy I would dance at his wedding. I will if he ever comes back to the store to claim it. The second one I sold after two women of obvious upper higher class ask me why I would want to push of my stupid mistake off on them and make them look like they were confused and cheap. A simple "no" would have worked. Finally I got a women who wanted one for 20 but didn't know what design she wanted. I told here she would also get a jig from me. Gift card peeps, call me!

Hubby and I attend the annual Christmas dinner for his company. Boy I got smashed. I'm still kinda lit, nah. Trust me, stay away from any drinks named after a national disaster. I needed the gin and juice to open the night and be able to be pleasant to my mother-in-law. She really takes all the joy out of my life. The sick thing is She is a two time cancer survivor and apparently flirting with death didn't make her a nicer person. I love the fact that her family makes these wonderful excuse for her actions, attitude, and personality but, they are excuses. The woman is not a nice person. She can't be nice if it was to save her life and that of several innocent orphans. She just is a spiteful unhappy person. She is so miserable that it is not contained by her body. So it leaks out to others. To this day, I still vomit when I think I have to spend time with her. I know karma is probably gonna get me for how I feel about her, but that's how I feel. I hope karma will excuse that. It's me being honest. Sorry.

Here is my send off. Guess where it's from:

CONNOR: Now you will receive us!
MURPHY: We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry
CONNOR: We do not want your tired or sick
MURPHY: It is your corrupt we claim
CONNOR: It is your evil that will be sought by us
MURPHY: With every breath, we shall hunt them down
CONNOR: Each day, we will spill their blood, 'till it rains down from the skies!
MURPHY: Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal. These are principles which every man, of every faith can embrace.
CONNOR: These are not polite suggestions. These are codes of behaviour. And those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost.
MURPHY: There are varying degrees of evil. We urge your lesser forms of filth not to push the bounds and cross over - into true corruption, into our domain.
CONNOR: But, if you do, one day you will look behind you, and you will see we three. And on that day, you will reap it!!
MURPHY: And we will send you to whatever God you wish.

Lady Yokai

Christmas Blues

Good morning all.

I took last night off from the blog to rest( go to bed early) I worked 10 hours yesterday and I just wanted to sleep the rest of my life away when I got home. But of course, there is always "factors" that just won't let the average person do such a thing. My two last night were, Hubby and Bathroom fixer guy. Not happening. Then there was the need to eat. Denny's took care of that. Not even the two cups of pipping hot coffee could keep me from dozing off in my scrambled eggs and hash browns.

So after the ride home I bolted into the house only to be held up from sleep by Hubby's obsession with stupid-comedy Internet clips. Mostly the Russian ones.

Half an hour later I'm in my bed, in my jammies, chipping away at the pages of Dean Koontz's Intensity. My Gosh, the first 100 pages flew by. Two of my cats nestled next to me and hogged the blankets. Bastards. After tearing the book away from my self, I got as comfortable as I could with the two furry ones pinning me down and wrapped in MY blankets, and I called it a night.

Yesterday was brutal. Not only did I have to sticker ever Sudoku book on a 7'x3' table which they were stacked 3 feet off the table, I had ring up customers and do customer service. I would not realize how much it helps to be in shape to escort customers and books around a big ass store.

I had the hand full of customers looking for a "blue" book, but didn't know the title or the author. The most annoying customers were the ones that didn't take the time to look for the price of the book. This customers would huff and puff in the customer service line, track me down in the bathroom (one lady even asked me while on the toilet), and follow me around the store or as I was working on a task. They would hold the book up like a five year old as ask "how much?" I would take the book as politely as I could and look at either the bar code or the front inside flap and quote the price of the book. I guess people are too busy or too lazy to look. What is this world coming to? I mean now you can even buy a car that parallel parks for you because people just never bothered to learn. Or even better, the rear cameras in SUVs so now you don't even have to look as you back up. I guess if you have issues backing up a SUV, maybe that is the crazy cosmic sign that you should invest in a Yaris.

So I got all my Winter Holiday shopping done. Yesterday started our store's employee appreciation. Which is an additional 10% off a transaction. Cool. I bought everything except holiday cards. Sorry, not happening. There will be no Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever holiday cards coming from this chic! I was so tired after work and during my shopping, I just gave up and bought what I could remember and find. This morning I realize the errors of my quest. So I quick stop on our stores online site and my gifts were purchased and sent. Sweet! Now I don't even have to go to the post office.

Today I'm trying to talk Hubby into test driving a couple of cars. He really should began looking . Our diesel Jetta has been great, but it's getting some serious usage since he drives so much for work. I think we should start looking before it croaks. So maybe a stop by Mazda for the CX-7, VW for the Jetta maybe a Rabbit, and a trip to Honda for the civic and whatever their new cross vehicle is. My choice is naturally the CX-7. Not only is it the perfect size, I would look so hot riding in the passenger side seat. Plus, I fell in love with Mazda after buying my brand new Mazda 3. I think Mazda is definitely money! But I'm just a girl. What do I really know ;).

We actually started our day taking one of the brats to the vet. Maxx has a chronic claw problem. In-grown. It doesn't allow him to trim it back with the usual clawing he does for the rest of his talons. It causes him a lot of pain, irritability, and swelling. So $10 later, he is trimmed and his in grown is treated. Probably this summer we will have that claw removed. His a bit upset with us right now. I'm sure after he takes his afternoon dump and nap he will be his cheery self again.

I am finally at the end of my day. Nothing much to rant about except the snail's pace the guy doing our bathroom is moving at. He's, he's got some issues. His current skanky whore is fucking with his head which in turn fucks with he progress of my bathroom. Weird. Every contractor/handyman/carpenter/mason that I've met, always seems to be involved with a skanky whore in some way, shape, or form. Maybe working with your hands and being blue collar attracts them like moths to a flame, eh, who knows. Today, he accomplished an hour and a half of work and three hours of moping about his girlfriend who has a back up boyfriend. I told Hubby about hiring people we know.

So, I'm gonna give what I promised. Another hit of Tao Teh Ching as a send off tonight.

Peace be with you,

Yokai

8.

The highest form of goodness is like water.
Water knows how to benefit all things without striving with them.

It stays in places loathed by all men.
Therefore, it comes near the Tao.

In choosing your dwelling, know how to keep to the ground.

In cultivating your mind, know how to dive in the hidden deeps.

In dealing with others, know how to be gentle and kind.

In speaking, know how to keep your words.

In governing, know how to maintain order.

In transacting business, know how to be efficient.

In making a move, know how to choose the right moment.

If you do not strive with others,
You will be free from blame.

Bathroom rubble!

Hello All!

I took a day or so off to chillax. Between ground zero known as my bathroom and the holiday hustle and bustle at work, stressed out is not even the word. Currently our bathroom has a tub and a toilet. One of my cats has fallen in love with the exposed wood and has been licking it for the last hour. Yep, it's Moo Cow!

I have mentioned all my cats except Ms. Phaeta. Phaeta is my first cat. We adopted her right before I left for Iraq back in '04. She's our ditz. I'm Sure she's got blond roots. We affectionately call her "Princess Feces". She has a bit of a fecal fetish. Gross, I know. Pfff. Who said female cats are cleaner? She tends to roll in her crap and wears her little brown nuggets with pride as if the were jewels and she was Queen Elizabeth. But at least she's cute. And she has the cutest little meows. She also never runs around without her socks on. Sorry, that was such a cat lady thing to say. You get a pic of her.

Boy, if it 's not one thing it's another. Work Sucks , yet provides a form of strangely addicting entertainment. If you are sickeningly sweet to the average Masshole, that hate you even more than you could imagine. That my friends is what I like to call "Retail-gasim". Today was completely full of them.

The usual crazy questions and antics, but one jokester, really pissed me the hell of. Imagine if you will, a home office display with 40 different cubby wholes of various sizes. Some dumb ass got this hair up his/her ass to take a the entire stock of a black leather picture frame we sell and not only remove every last one from the boxes, but also take the protective wrap of the frames. After that was accomplished, this "Mass-a-lope," took every frame and hid them strategically throughout the entire fixture. At least the person was "nice" enough to put the boxes back together and stack them neatly. Omigosh!!!! When I found the frames, it took all the zen breathing and restraint I possessed and some from a customer to keep me from lashing out at every customer in the store. I know they probably didn't do that, but it's the smug attitude from most of our customers that portraits the attitude, "Eh, it's okay, some minimum wage loser will put this back." For that "DICK'S" information, I earn more than minimum wage!

Ugh.......

The other favorite thing I like about our customers, many of them take the time to pull lists of books from other stores, and bring them in. Hold on. Not just online stores, oh no. There are lists compiled with web page print outs of all pertinent info from places such as Yahoo, MSN, Amazon, Half.com, Ebay, etc. But ya gotta add the people that collect from other bookstores. Customers have come in with title pages they've ripped from books in other stores, pictures on their phones and digi cameras of the books from other stores, some have even had the other stores call over. Wow. I know. The best is when we don't have what they are looking for and they throw it in you face that the saw it in another store. I always wanna say, " Look Bitch, why the fuck didn't you get it while you were there? You're not even a member here so it's not like your saving money!!!!!" Stupid fuckers!

So I am trying to avoid reading the Iraq report that is out. We have copies everywhere. I keep picking them up, but slamming them down and quickly waddling away. I'm not quite sure why we paid people to come out with this findings. Are people really that baffled about why we're still there? Well ya, I guess there is some confusion on why we went, but why we're still there is simple. Somethings just don't have simple solutions. Something aren't quick an easy like your high school class slut. Somethings require time. Time to heal, realign, learn, experience, fuck up, and get it right. The Iraqi people have had a tragic history. Cutting and running just makes us another abusive family member. Well, I guess we would be the abusive foster parent. Not demeaning the people of Iraq and calling them children. They have been around since the beginning of time. The Garden of Eden and Babylon are two biblical places located in Mesopotamia or Iraq. So they've been around. The people are just new to making their own collective decisions. So yes, it will take awhile. So stop expecting a quick solution. Time has the power to heal, corrective, strengthen, weaken, and punish. It will come. Karma and fate will see all of us through.

So I thought I would indulge my audience with a bit of Tao Teh Ching. I'm not a Taoist. But if your like me you gathered that it's kinda like Buddhism. Correct. The two are kinda the same. The major difference other than origin of location and age (Taoism is believed to be slightly older way of life than Buddhism), is the belief in "emptiness." Buddhist's Emptiness concerns external views and perceptions of reality and objects. Tao emptiness concerns restraint, patience, frugality, and simplicity. With that in mind, I'm gonna hit you with some Lao Tzu.


11.

Thirty spokes converge upon a single hub;
It is on the hole in the center that the use of the cart hinges.

We make a vessel from a lump of clay;
It is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.

We make doors and windows for a room;
But it is these empty spaces that make the room livable.

Thus, while the tangible has advantages,
It is the intangible that makes it useful.

Damn. That's some deep shizzle!

Take that with you a ponder my friends. Next post, I'll have another for ya. If your interested, check this site out: http://www.thetao.info/index.htm
And don't for get to check out my dawg over at: http://thirdprong.blogspot.com/

Say something intelligent there!!!

Much respect,

Yokai

The return of Princess L!

Hello all!

I decided to take Sundays off. Sunday is a day of rest, and so shall it be with my blog. Although, my fingers weren't off. ( Stop thinking you nasty freaks!)

A good friend of mine got a hold of me from the depths of the abyss known as "Active Duty Departure". This is when you get out active military service and severe all ties with those you use to hang out with. You don't really mean for it to happen, but location, location, and location.

As with this awesome gal I thought had passed me by. Like so many people I have had the brief pleasure of sharing space and oxygen with , she faded away. After trying for several months, I thought she was just ignoring me. Come to find out, I think I was just emailing the wrong address. Well, outta the blue she drops me a line. Great hearing from you, Princess. Gotta send me some pics. Not only that, she's been keeping up with a few other peeps I would love to know what's going on with.

I think we've touched on the fact that I have no close friends here in the Bay State. Maybe it's my own insecurities that has enabled me from meeting people. Great roll in for this next tid bit of shit!

So the Lesbian came back to the store today. I know. I guess I sent the Gay-dar bleeping. Swell, now I'm throwing off lesbian waves. She bought a book and sent one of the other employees looking for me. Eeew! She even brought a friend, another lesbian. After not being able to locate me ( Thank Goodness for Holiday Cards!) she left. But came back an hour later just as I was trying to leave for the day. I was en route to an appointment with my husband. So not only did she block me in, she jumped out of her car and hugged me. Okay, I'm a people-a-phobe. I really don't like strangers touching me. She was really with in a couple of seconds of being stabbed with my keys. She spoke sternly about my not calling her over the weekend. The mentioned how tense I was and how much she would love to massage the stress out of me. So after dry heaving I said good bye, got in my car, and rev-ed the engine until she got the point. She winked, said goodbye, and sped off playing some really annoying rap music. The worst part, she was shopping in "SWEATS!!!!!" Anyone who knows me, knows I hate the wearing of sweats for activities other than exercise or house work. Shopping, social activities, traveling, nuh-uh! Wear clothing that is appropriate! That's why they're called sweats, so you can sweat in them. Not go to Nordstrom's toting a Louis Vutton in your Gucci sunglasses. Stop it and wear some decent clothes. You know, you never realize your ass is growing when you wear sweats on a regular basis.

I like to keep certain aspects of my life out of this blog. Unfortunately there was about to be consequences and repercussions. Currently we are having our bathroom remodelled. It's about time. After someone had a hissy fit and ripped down half our bathroom six months ago, we have not quite been financially able to repair it. This someone was also about to suggest that there would be no showers for the next week. Heads were about to roll. His and the contractor doing the bathroom work. Fuck that. In our relationship, we have many rules. One being only one of us is allowed to wig-out/ spazz out at a time. My husband likes to think he holds all these cards. Not so, buddy boy! Today was Hubby's revenge. We sat down in front of a financial advisor ( Bane of my existence). He didn't say flat out I have to give up shopping, but, he was treading on dangerous territory. We have to save approx $200 a month. Due-a-ble. Especially now that I have my crazy money coming in once a month. 2 months ago, well, someone might have lost an eye. Yes, this was Hubby's chance to scream about my shoes, clothing, cat toys, Haiku books, and jewelry. Fine, I accept his bitch and raise him his cigarettes and the need to feel financially responsible for the shortcomings of his job. Take that triangle nostrils!!!!!! We agreed to do better and save for his retirement in Germany and mine in Japan. So I guess upon retirement, we need to separate. Of course, this is just many ways, I think he likes to believe he is the bread winner of our relationship. I like to think his is just plain stupid, but, eh, men will be men. Can't live with them, but they sure do make great slaves!!!:) Nah, I love him to know end, but sometimes I want to smother him in his sleep. Don't feel bad for him. He feels the same way about me. Except he would never be able to stay awake and/or wake up in time to do it. So he has just settled on throwing me in the dryer one day.

Hey, Laurel! Laurel is my "Mr. Tinkle/Bigglesworth" kitty. She is your average white long hair, fat cat. She's precious. Yep you get a pic! She is our newest kitty. We've had her since August. She is traumatized. More than the others. She is the queen of the second floor. She has her own plush pillow, food dish, and litter box. She is having a hard time fitting in as most overweight kids do. She's super funny and meow's like Mary Sue the chain smoking whore at the local truck stop who was bred from two cousins in a trailer park. Whew.

I don't have many work related rants for the day. Just your common, " Are these the only Christmas cards you have?" questions. I spent most of the day restocking holiday cards or as I say, "visiting Holiday card hell." So I got to avoid most of the crazies today. Tomorrow. Well, that's a totally different story. Tomorrow I should be doing Audio books for the most part so, let the games begin.

Crap! I missed Heroes tonight!!!! See. Dealing with my husband and his priorities: Work, His Family, Money, PC Games, Cars, Cats, Wife. Can anyone tell me how the season ended?

In great despair of Heroes,

Yokai the Sad

Yea!!!!!!!!!!! Alive and kicking!!!!!

Wuz up, Y'all!!!!

Much thanks to the Google Help Group gurus of Editing and Posting help. To fix my problem last night and today, I took their advice and downloaded Mozilla FireFox. So now, I'm live and running in full friggin' affect!!!!!!! Everything has been fixed and updated. I must say. The 5 minutes I've been using FireFox, I've been loving it!!!!

It's so cool!!! I'm running two browsers at the same time!!!!! This is the shizzle!!!!!

So for everyone that wants to comment, but doesn't want to set up an account, here is the address you can send stuff to: lady.yokai@gmail.com

So what do I have for ya today? Hmmmm.

I got pics so that's good.

Today, I spent it with my wonderful husband. Being the right hand is grueling. We walked through some house that are for sale, some houses that were being rehabbed, and home depot which always starts my yawn-o-meter. I know we were there to pick out tile for our bathroom that goes under construction on Monday, but can't they make HD more un-DIY chic friendly?
I got it!!! Hot men wearing nothing but yellow hard hats, tool belts, and steel toe boots assisting you. Is this too much to ask? Or what about a free appletini every 1/2 hour you spend there. What about a women's spa? Your accompanying male checks you in. When he arrives and when he's done, he picks you up, but not only are you ready to go, you have been massaged, beautified, and relaxed by the hot men in suggestion #1. No? TMI? Hey, I'm trying. Trust me, if that were even an option, I'd make hubby go a heckuva lot more!

So we didn't see any tile we like so the search for the illusive perfect bathroom tile continues. ( I think Steve Irwin would have said that better.)

Confirming the fact I don't want to have kids, I spent 2 1/2 hours with your average underachieving, overweight, slap faced, kid. I mean, his a cute dumpling (with your choice of fattening sauce) but, he was quite annoying. I mean, it mentally and physically hurts me to be around kids. Especially this one. He believes he works for CSI: Springfield, MA. He walked around collecting "samples" of whatever and I think one of the samples was a dead chipmunk. I lured him into his uncle's truck by telling him "the Ninjas were out to get him, but I would get him into the truck and stand watch outside." Cruel, yeah, but effective. Gosh, if I smoked, I really would have needed a light. What's up with thinking just because I got a pair of ovaries, I'm kid friendly? I really wanted to tell him his daddy beat him because he didn't want him and he hoped by beating him the kid would go away, but Karma kicked me so I banished the thought (for the time being). It really was kinda sad. The only male figure the kid has in his life was his uncle. At least he has that. Some kids only have Uncle Michelle. That's right Timmy. One day Uncle Michelle will drink the magic juice and become your Uncle Michael. Until then, pretend she doesn't have boobies like Mommy.

My littlest kitty pounced on my husband tonight. In one swoop, she landed in his open eye. That's right, you get a pic of little Tortie T. Homunculus. She's a doll. She is a Tortoiseshell cat. We really think she is one of the illegitimate kittens of our once player/rolling stone orange tabby, Maxx. Yep you get a pic of him too. I swore right before it happened, Right before I heard Hubby scream, I swear, in teenee tiny kitty voice, I heard: "SWEET REVENGE!!!!!!"

I guess a rant I have for the day is flippers. I think people really aren't thinking this through before committing to the idea. First of all, stop watching the TV shows. Those people are kinda given a hand be the shows and the networks. You're not gonna get it. Homes in good condition are expensive, but ones that need work, whoa, make sure your pockets run deep and your schedule has some gaps. Rome was not built in a day and neither is this flipping project. Most importantly, reap what you sow. If you put in only a little time, money, and effort, guess what you're gonna get at the end of the business transaction ( if there is one). So my point, take your time, do a good job, karma and your inner self will appreciate it. But most importantly, your pocket will appreciate it.

Today for the most part is pretty rant free. It's been somewhat a good day, but I do have some stupid questions that really grind my gears:

"Excuse me, do you work here?"
No you gidget! I'm only wearing a name take with the stores name on it, carrying a weird hand held device used for scanning books, carrying a load of the same books, and stack them on a shelf that says "Bestsellers"!!!!! WTF!!!!!

"I don't understand why you don't take competitors coupons? The local grocery store does it all the time."

"I bought this edition of national geographic 15 years ago! Why don't you have a copy in your storeroom? Shouldn't you have them on hand for customers!!!!"

" I don't understand? Why can't I open the Christmas cards up and mix the ones I want into one box?"

"Can you tell me when Will Smith will be here to sign the book, " Pursuit of Happiness?"

"What's the name of the red book on TV last night?"

"Is the coffee at the cafe harvested by exploited African tribe people?"

"Why don't you have any magazines in Chinese? What are Chinese immigrants suppose to read? This makes them feel they are not respected and wanted in our country"

"Can you tell me how much this book costs so I can haggle the price at the other bookstore in the mall?"

See, I have enough stupidity trapped in my head to go on and on. It never ends.

Something I wanted to touch on, but never had the audience for it. I respect the fact that some people enjoy video games. Great. I can understand that some people just have to be in the "it" crowd and would camp out for days for an item that does not provide them food, shelter, or any other necessity. Sure, that's called an interest bordering on the verge of obsession, but still, it's cool. The fact the people are willing to go to jail and ever injure others for a video game console is beyond me.

Don't get me wrong. I love to shop. I am a power shopper and would put many into tears. I admit I also like to splurge on worthless items that will be thrown in the closet never to be heard from again. The fact that when the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3 came out , there were reports of fights, assaults, and general cuntiness, well, that's just sad. Why? It is amazing what people will do, isn't it. I mean, let's not ask this people to build a house for humanity while they are waiting. How about knit sweaters for the homeless or children in orphanages? I got it. Stand in line for a worthy cause like voting or protesting for universal health care. No. Let's stand in line for a piece of equipment that will be outdated in 6 to 12 months. The problem is the short attention spans of most people will wander off to the newest flashing light faster than you can say, "SEGA!" Let's see. Somewhere there is an angry blog reader thinking of all things he/she could say about the precious game systems and why they are worth the unruliness. Let me stop you. I don't care. Gives two in a bucket. Most people get impatient sitting at a red light, but you got a good portion of America waiting out for as long as a week in some places to pay 4oo bucks a pop. That's just the tax and the price of the system. I guess I shouldn't be too upset. This fuels our devastated economy. I'm all about that. It takes the plight of Mexican immigrants off the news (Thank Goodness. Notice no one is complaining about any of the other immigrants. Gee. I wonder why?). Also it distracts us from the Pres.'s declining approval rate and the conflicts we have evolved ourselves in. Hey, Fairweather country, yeah, we are in other places than Iraq. Remember Afghanistan and the Balkans? Guess what? Troops are still there. The game console saga is as good as a cover up as Pluto being stripped of it's title of being a planet!

Let me stop now before it gets ugly. If you are offended, sorry. My apologizes. Wait. This is my blog! You don't like it, tough! Start your own blog and invite me to it! In the meantime, read a book and go outside and play an actual activity that requires actual skills!

I guess I should stop for the night. Hubby is eating Ice cream sandwiches. The sign that he needs attention. No, that's not what that means. I think it means he needs more ice cream sandwiches. No. I think it's time for bed. Maybe. I get so confused with guy lingo. That's why I'm reading Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. It's informative. I'm learning things. I get smart.

Oh, something I guess I should explain about Munky ( our tortoiseshell cat). Miss Tortie T. Homunculus was named so because when my husband decided to name her he named her for a show that he really likes. The Animae show, Full Metal Alchemist, is about two brothers who possess the knowledge/power of Alchemy. On the show, a creature called a "Homunculus is created when an alchemist uses his power to bring a person back to life or any other major sin (I think). The Homunculus usually takes pieces of the alchemist and the person brought back to life. Homunculus have no souls. They are just parts. Evil parts. Well, Mucky ( I call her Mucky, Hubby calls her Munky) is just as sweet as can be. She does, however, have a black and orange patterned coat. and her rear left leg is all orange. Tortie The (T) Homunculus.

So it's time for me to say good bye. To all my bloggin' friends,

Good nite. So long. 'Till we rant again.

Don't ever miss an opportunity to vent. It could lead to premature ejaculation!!!!!!

Yokai

Apology

I don't know what happened to the previous blog. My pics won't load and I couldn't go back to fix them. So I'm trying again. I couldn't even get spell check up. So please don't freak out if there are spelling and grammar errors. I tried to fix as much as I could. So I'm trying the pics again. Cross your fingers.

I also want to give a shout to my Road Dawg over at the blog "crackerjacked": http://thirdprong.blogspot.com/

I think there is a scheduled outage that screwed everything up. To check out pics of Chiaki as Gogo: http://chiaki-kuriyama.zanlius.com/images/index.html.

Maybe I'll send more pics tomorrow.

Very disappointed,

Yokai

Aughrrrrrrr!!!!!!! Real Estate crap and Holiday education.

Hello all!

23 more shopping days til the most economically exploited holiday of the year. If you don't believe me, ask a 10 year old what Christmas is all about. Guarantee you that the kid will mention something about getting presents. Oh yeah, they'll say something cute that he or she was fed from some holiday movie or a parent like: "It's about good will towards men, or it's the day Jesus was born." The truth is very few people know what Christmas is really about. Heck, I don't even know. I have so much in my head, I couldn't begin to tell ya. The worst part is people are actually offended by the term, "Happy Holidays." C'mon. Whatever happen to good will towards men? Yes, there are other holidays out there in the same time frame. Amazingly, kids don't know this for whatever reason. I leave that up to you to figure out. So this year, I'm doing my part!

Take a look at other holidays around the same time. This year, take sometime to familiarize yourself with them. These holidays include, Hanukkah (sundown on Dec. 25 through Jan. 2; Chanukah Basics ; User-Friendly Chanukah How-To Guide ), Yule ( Dec 21 at 1:35 p.m. EST, when winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere; Winter Solstice: The Unconquered Son; Winter Solstice Is A Celebration of Light), and Kwanzaa (26 Dec. to 1 Jan;.The Symbols of Kwanzaa). Education time. Go ahead and take a look at some of these sites. In fact, I'm throwing in a bonus: Maria's Christmas Archive ; How Christmas Works. Voila! Enjoy and teach a friend.

So I have two separate rants. Well, other than the holiday one. The first is for my hubby. He is a real estate agent and this in no way is his opinion. It's mine!!!! The wife of a realtor. Yep, all you decisive and ignorant buyers out there. Let me serve you some humble information pie.

Realtors are professionals. They're time is MONEY!!!!! Every second they waste on a futile attempt to please finicky people costs them. That's how these professionals pay their mortgage/rent, car note, utilities, groceries, kid's education, etc. So when you purposely misled them into showing you property that you have no intentions of considering. It's people like me who suffer. STOP IT!!!!!!! Wait, I'm not done! It is also pissy to work exclusively with a realtor and do this: because the agent couldn't make an appointment, contact another agent to show you property. Let me tell you why a-holes who are guilty of this. You are officially screwing 2 professionals. 1. The agent you are working with. For whatever reason, such as they are sick, family emergency, booked solid, etc. it hurts their image if you go to another office and tell another agent yours couldn't help you for the moment. Like you never get sick. Stop in your tracks! 2. The agent you go sulking too doesn't receive any money for taking time out of his schedule to show you stuff. Your agent will, but this poor person loses money by not working with people who are available and will not go running back to another agent. I mean you have one. That's the person that make the commission. Don't be a Sh*thead! If you worked a whole day at your job and didn't get paid a dime, I bet you'd be pissed! So for the people who have and/or are doing this, CORRECT YOURSELF!!! If you aren't' this is a heads up. Don't do it. Karma is a vengeful force. It will come back to you.

Whew. Now onto mine.

I have only been working at my current location for about 4 months. First retail job. It's amazing. I should have written most of these crazy ass questions and comments down. I thought of one that was kinda disturbing:

I am helping a customer in the college/study aid section. She is looking for a book on the consequences of not going to college.

"My daughter wants to go to a technical institute for HVAC tech. So, I'm looking for a book that will discourage her from this crazy idea. She is just so smart. She is in the top 5% of her graduating class. She needs to go to college and get a good job. I mean, tech schools are only for those kids that were either too poor or weren't quite smart enough to get into a good college, right?"

Does this offend you too? The woman was dead serious. I really kept waiting for the punchline. It never came. After an awkward silence, I tried to find such a book. No Luck. Surprise. Surprise. I mean, don't you want a somewhat intelligent person to work on your A/C and Heating system? Heck, I know I do. Dude, I really need to get out of Ivy League land. The warped perceptions here are killing me.

I'm on my lunch break and I notice a guy standing in a trench coat and driving hat standing at the customer service desk. So I put my piece of vanilla bean cheesecake down, and tell him I am getting someone for him.

"Look here sweetheart, can't you just do it. I mean don't you get paid to take care of people like me?"

The nerve. If he were outside in the back, I would have shanked him!!!!! What the hell do I like like, F-ing room service!!!!! Fricking escort for hire. This leads me into the next one. I understand that people like to hit on the waitress that serve them or the cashier that rings them up, but how F-ing rude is it to do it to them at their job!!!!!!!! Especially if you are a regular customer. Isn't that mental stalking? Every time that person sees you, they are PRAYING you don't come over to them. Today, I got hit on.

"So, I see you working hard here all the time. I just thought I would come over an introduce myself. So if you would like' we could go out some time? (I explain I'm married) Oh, that's cool. I'm sure a pretty thing like you could use a friend. Someone to talk to or have a drink with. Here is my phone number. Call me. I own a beauty salon. I would live to twist your hair. If you don't call me, I know where you work."

Let me go ahead and tell you. This was a girl!!!!!!! Not that I am offended. Wait. I am. How cuntish is it for you to do that at someone's job! Stupid customer-stalker! I don't want to be your friend and don't give me your phone number. I didn't ask for it! I am somewhat uncomfortable about the incident. Not only because it was a woman( who wasn't attractive)and I'm married, but because now my job is a hostile environment. Apparently it's common that this happens to customer service workers (retail, food, medical, office). I was told if it get unbearable, contact a manager. By the way, one of the receiving guys and I torched the phone number.

The stupidest comment today was:

"I'm looking for a book with pictures. The pictures are by a photographer. I don't know his name or what the book looks like. Can you help me?"

Weather miracle of the day: When I woke up this morning at 4:50am, 1 December 2006, it was a balmy 61 degrees outside. Yes, Massachusetts is a global warming victim. That or this is were the devil does his winter vacationing.

I hope you enjoyed the rant. Also the pics of Miss Chiaki Kuriyama (Gogo Yubari, Kill Bill vol. 1). She is my new favorite villaness. Here are some other films she's done: Battle Royale and Kagen no Tsuki (Last Quarter) check her out: http://chiaki-kuriyama.zanlius.com/ . By the way, In Japanese slang, apparently "Ferrari" is not just a fast car!

Rant to ya later