randomly chaotic and frequently mundane

So, I’m now the proud owner of a convertible.  Yep.  My old car needed replacing, so I saved a bit and picked it up for $500 and the cost of a radiator.  My dad put the radiator in.  I need to replace a headlight in order for it to pass inspection, and one of the radiator hoses might need replacing.  Other than that, we can’t spot anything wrong with it.  It’s a good thing.  WEEEE!

Work isn’t bad.  Actually it’s about the same as it ever is.  Some people annoy the hell out of me, but others balance it out.  One customer in particular… I call him “hot russian guy” although I do know his name.  He’s a customer who comes in a few times a week.  Damn is he fine.  Me want.  Me want BAD.  But one of my co-workers is pretty sure she’s seen him in with a “wife type person” so that would be bad.  He doesn’t wear a ring, but a lot of guys don’t.  And it looks like he might come in after working out, and some guys take their rings off while they’re working out.  Hot russian guy does have a hell of a body (at least from what I’ve seen).  But what really gets me is his smile.  He’s got one of those smiles that is impossible not to return.  He smiles, you want to smile too, and it’s kind of day brightening.

Been working on a blanket for Gage, which is almost done.  Once that’s done I start on the blanket for Carrie.  Then I finally start the blanket for me.  After that, I dunno what I’m doing.

so my Avs are out.  They lost in 6 games, but they didn’t give up.  I would have loved a 7 game series (even if it had the same ending) but that’s ok.  The Sharks are my 2nd favorite team, so I’ll be hoping that they make it all the way.  It would be nice to know that the team that eliminated my team was good enough to go to the Stanley Cup Finals…

the lead singer of one of my favorite bands of all time, was apparently admitted to the hospital Thursday night due to a massive brain hemorage.  I did find a report that says he’s now stable, awake and upbeat.  But damn was it a shock to hear that.  He’s always meant a lot to me.  The times I’ve talked to him he’s been warm and considerate.  The kind of guy who makes time for his fans no matter how busy he is or how tight his schedule is.  He’s a really good guy.  I’m praying that everything turns out well for him.

What is it with people wanting to get something for nothing?  Seriously, I work at a grocery store, I see people all the time and their little ploys to get something for free.  Sure, it’s possible that you really didn’t like those frozen dinners that you bought.  But when you come back with empty packages demanding a refund because you thought it was disgusting… and then turn around and spend that refund on the EXACT SAME frozen dinners you just demanded a refund for, yeah I’m not buying it.  You just want something for nothing.  Your little scam is one of the reasons that groceries are so expensive these days.

I actually saw someone once buy 3 apples to munch on while they shopped.  After eating the first two and half of the 3rd, they demanded a refund for all 3 apples because the 3rd apple wasn’t green inside, it was turning brown — so obviously it wasn’t a fresh apple.  Well the last time I checked, apples start to brown as soon as you bite into them.  And if the first two apples were so bad… why did you eat them???? 

Don’t go into the store and complain that there wasn’t enough meat on the sandwiches you bought yesterday if you don’t have the sandwiches to show.  Seriously, if there was “no meat” on the sandwiches, why did you eat them?  I’ll tell you why you ate them, because you want something for nothing.  What will you do when the people who make the decision get wise to your act?  I’m already onto you and I’m the type to make myself heard.  I’ve got my eye on you, and I’m tellin.  It’s only a matter of time.

Now, a lot of grocery chains have some kind of policy that promises a refund, a discount, a coupon or something free if your item rings up the wrong price.  That’s a nice feature.  But just because something on the same shelf has a tag with a lower price doesn’t mean that the one YOU bought should have run up at that price.  Sometimes only one flavor is on sale.  Sometimes you’re looking at the wrong damn tag.  Learn to read.  It doesn’t take much more than a 5th grade education to figure it out.  The UPC code that’s on the product you’re buying is ALSO on the tag.  Match them up, because if they don’t match when we check… you don’t get the benefit of that policy.  Sorry, but that’s the way the eggs are scrambled.

You wanna save money on your groceries?  Clip coupons like a normal person.  Stores are reimbursed for those, so they don’t lose money — money lost on your stupid scams means higher prices across the board. 

currently, the Avs are at the tank, taking on the Sharks.  it’s a good game.  It’s going to be a good series.  As much as I want the Avs to win it, the Sharks are my best friends favorite team.  Whichever team wins this series… I hope goes all the way.

Oh, and it’s a beautiful thing to be watching the Coyotes beating the Red Wings (ok there’s like 9 minutes to go, but for right now, the Yotes are beating the Wings)

and so vacation ended.  It was relaxing while it lasted.  Didn’t do much.  Went to the zoo with my son and god daughter.  Went fishing.  Lazed about the rest of the week, for the most part.  Today, reality crashed upon me, I had to go back to work.  But I did miss some of the folks at work, I was excited to be “hanging out” with some of them for a few hours.  By hanging out, I mean working, of course.   Of course the first day back at work after vacation is followed by 2 days off work.  Makes no sense.  LOL

In honor of that, I’d like to post about about my son.

He was diagnosed on Feb 15, 2007.  He was almost 5 years old at the time.  What lead us to have him evaluated?  I actually get that question a lot.  He hadn’t started to speak yet, for starters.  He also lacked social skills — though he hadn’t had much social interaction with his peers prior to starting pre-school that year.  He didn’t make eye contact and wasn’t affectionate and he had a hard time focusing on a single task (more so than your average 4 yr old, that is).

What was it like?  Well, it was difficult.  I’ll admit, I cried.  In that moment, I realized all the things that my son might never experience as a result.  He may never fall in love.  May never attend college.  Might never have a career that he loves… there are so many “might nevers.”  It hurt me to know that my son might not experience those things.  But the next morning, I woke up with a renewed resolve — the might nots are still there, but what can and will happen is that I will do everything in my power to make sure that my son has the opportunity for those things to happen.  In essence, I woke with a new attitude and determination.  Now my son is on the Ritalin patch, which helps him to focus on things in school and at home.  He interacts with other children more frequently than just school.  He’s encouraged and praised when he uses new words correctly.  His progress has been tremendous the past couple of years and he’s going into a class next year that relies less on “one on one” lessons and more on group lessons.

Yes, there are still tantrums from time to time.  And even rarer than that, there are still meltdowns.  They’re terrible and heart breaking and occasionally frightening.  But that’s part of who my son is, but don’t get me wrong… if and when it goes away, I won’t miss it.  It’s still a part of life and we deal with it.  ‘Nuff said.

Do you ever wonder about the things you’re missing out on by not having a normal child?  What’s normal?  My son is normal to me.  He’s the only child I’ve ever had, his diagnosis didn’t change anything.  He was the same kid the day before we got the piece of paper that said “Diagnosis: Autism” as he was the day after we got that piece of paper.  And just what am I missing out on?  I have a loving son who is affectionate, loves to laugh and play outside.  Loves a lot of the movies I grew up watching, likes playing with the dog… a child for whom blowing bubbles or a bowl of mac and cheese will cure any sour mood or boo-boo.  Sound a lot like some “normal” kids you know?  I’m not missing out on anything, I’m just experiencing it in a different way than you.

On May 22, my family and I (including my son) will be participating in the Autism walk in our community. Please feel free to click the link and contribute to our team. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Click Here to Donate

had naughty dreams about a co-worker last night.  Everytime I woke up and went back to sleep… they continued.  It was odd.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s a hell of a nice guy and I love talking and joking with him but I’ve never looked at him from that perspective.  It would probably be interesting though….

people can be so f-ing rude, you know that?  I mean, seriously.  There’s no reason to be rude to the people at the grocery store, particularly the people who work there.  I just don’t understand the need.  Really.  A little smile, a please or thank you.  Yeah, it’s my job to ring up and bag your crap, but it is not in my job description to take your crap.  Don’t tell me to put it all in one bag, then bitch that I packed it too heavy and get snarky with me.  You’re the moron who asked me to put it all in one bag.  If it’s too heavy, YOU re-bag it, ya dumb shit.  Don’t act like I’ve done something wrong when I did what you asked me to do.  I’m not the idiot who asked for several jars, cans and a half gallon of milk to be bagged together.  I don’t even do that for myself.  But if you ask for it, you get it,

You know what else?  Don’t ask me to pack 2 items inside a paper bag that’s in a plastic bag.  Seriously.  Are you trying to do your best to destroy the planet?  I’m not wasting bags on your dumb ass.  If you want it packed that light, you don’t need double bags — there’s no point.  It’s not like the bottom is going to drop out because there’s an orange and bag of carrots in the frakkin bag.  That shit just pisses me off.

How special you must think you are.  After making your ridiculous demands, you just stand there and watch me bag.  Even better, you throw in comments like “put this in a bag with that.”  Are your arms broken?  What happened to the concept of “helping?”  Did you forget that little lesson that momma taught you?

 Randall is my hero — “This job would be great if it weren’t for the f-ing customers.”

so one of the girls at work is pregnant.  I’m working on a blanket for her, been going at it pretty hard the past week or so, it’s almost done.  but now my fingers ache.  It gets better.  An old friend from many years ago is having a baby soon.  A girl (everyone else I know seems to be having boys), so I can make a blanket I’ve been wanting to make for months.  It’s really girly, so it wouldn’t work for a boy, but now I can make it for a girl.  That’s a good thing.  I was thinking that the pattern might be cool in a different color scheme and made bigger, as well.  I’ll have to see how the first one comes out though.

 What is it about building a website for the straightjacket quartet that makes my computer want to stop working?  The first time it happened, my computer had to be reset.  This time, the fans stopped working and it wouldn’t run for more than 15 minutes without getting hot and shutting down.  It’s now cleaned out and running fine, but I’m afraid to start working on the website again, lol.

Work is… interesting.  A new security guy has people on edge.  The vibe that most employees have gotten from him is that he’s not really there to watch the customers.  I think most people are convinced that if he thinks you did something wrong, he’s going to make a stink and paint the picture however he wants to.  Seriously, it’s to the point that, for example, the people who make the prepared foods are afraid to taste the stuff they make.  Something they generally HAVE to do to make sure that it tastes good, has enough seasoning, etc.  That’s not exactly a benefit to the store.

So I decided to highlight my hair by adding a little blond.  Mom pulled my hair through the cap (which brought her tremendous joy, I’m sure) and put in the highlights.  Um… there’s quite a bit more blond than I anticipated.  Not that it’s a bad thing.  I always looked good as a blond.  Come to think of it, I’ve been thinking about going blond again… so maybe next time I’ll do the whole lot.  The only problem with a frosting kit is that the cap gives you instant roots — you don’t even have time for your hair to grow out some before you have roots.

Gotta figure out something to do with Gage on Saturday.  Mom & Joe are having the breakers re-wired so the power’ll be off.  Gage doesn’t handle that well.  He walks around trying to turn things on and getting upset that they’re not turning on.  So I’m gonna take him out to do something.  Just dunno what yet.

there’s a dog in the house again.  She’s a puggle named Petunia and absolutely adorable.  She’s also sweet as hell.

Gage is doing really good in school.  Next year he’ll be in the more advanced Autism class, which is excellent news.  I’m so very excited and proud and all of that.  We’ve signed up for the Autism walk again this year.  We want to make it an annual thing.  Starting the fund raising so we’re not scrambling at the last minute to try to get donations.

Work is work.  One of our more unpleasant customers was in today — skunk lady.  She attempted to make amends for some of the nastiness she’s unleashed.  Alas, she was attempting to make amends to the wrong person.  Which was both disturbing and amusing at the same time.  Maybe she’s sincere.  I’m not sure I buy it.

Searching for a new car.  New used car, that is.  Found a couple of options that look like they’ll be reliable, budget friendly and kind of “fit” as far as me getting behind the wheel without needing 25 pillows to be able to see over the dashboard.  Shortness has it’s challenges, you know.

Read New Moon and Eclipse this weekend.  Good books.  Can’t wait to see the movies.  Now I just need to get a copy of Breaking Dawn and complete the series.  I dunno about that whole “Team Edward/Team Jacob” thing.  Frankly, I think Bella should stick with Edward and send me a Jacob.  I’d definitely like a Jacob in my life.  Or maybe an Edward.  Both at the same time could be interesting, too.  LOL

Traded Wolski????  Are you frakkin kidding me?  I just can’t wrap my head around that.  Wojtek Wolski???  Good lord that’s just insane.  That’s all I got to say for now.

So they were predicting another major snowstorm, 8 - 16 inches was the last prediction I heard.  The panic set in, people rushed to the store, people bought a whole bunch of stuff.  Yeah, we got like 4, maybe 5 inches.  Hell, they plowed the roads completely clean, right along the curbs instead of just down the middle.  It was that light.  I hope some of those people who had the “I must rush to the store now” mentality feel kinda stupid now.

about snow that makes people lose all sense of reason and sanity?  Seriously.  The way they flock to the grocery store at the first hint of snow and buy whatever they see.  It’s like they think they’re going to be snowed in for weeks as a result of a few inches.  Personally, when I hear about the snow, I think “damn, I gotta shovel again,” not “Oh crap! I gotta rush out and buy more food than my family can eat in a week!!!”  People just baffle me, seriously.  I mean, the last time I checked, they DO plow.  The last time I checked, we’ve all been through this before.   And what are you people doing at the grocery store in the middle of the day?  Did you seriously leave work early so that you could go grocery shopping in preparation for the storm?  It’s not so urgent people.  I’m willing to be that you probably had enough stuff in your pantry already.  Maybe you needed a few essentials.  Maybe you really WERE out of milk.  But it’s not like you needed to buy a cart load of crap.

And while I’m on the subject… what do you do with the eggs, bread and milk?  Are you making french toast?  I mean, everyone rushes out and gets eggs, milk and bread when they hear it’s going to snow.  Why that particular variety of items?  It sounds an awful lot like you’re making french toast while you’re waiting out the storm.  How nice for you.  Pray tell, how you going to cook those eggs if the power goes out?  Just a thought.

I seriously don’t get it.