...ONE MORE THING...

I am taking my nursing duties very seriously, but I do have limitations.

I've had to help her in the bathroom, help her bathe, wash her hair, get her dressed.  Stuff like that.

But when she asked me to cut her toenails and shave her "good" leg, she got a "HELL TO THE EFFING NO".... this shit didn't get this way since day before yesterday.

Not touching it.  

No way.  No how.

I asked her if she's shaved her legs since we moved here.  She had to think then said something about not since it's been cold.  It's been cold a while. 

Crutches Suck!

I'm not talking about life assisting crutches like vodka or Prozac.  They don't suck.  What's the opposite of suck?  That's what they do.

I'm talking crutches crutches.  Were they designed to make you forget about your broken leg or ankle?  Because after a day of using those things, everything else startes to hurt...back, neck, shoulders, underarms.

So I did today what every good partner should do and I bought my girl a walker!  Even came with a little pink carrying bag.  Notice there's still a crutch in the picture?  It's to keep the dogs at bay. 

I've pointed out the Kibbles and Bits ashtray for you.  We do have real ashtrays, just so you know. 

Notice she's in new clothes?  She's clean too.  Big plus.  BIG.

I would be rich if I had a quarter for every time I've heard something like, "Where are my glasses?" or "Have you seen my lighter?" or "Where's the remote?"

She has pretty much been on that couch for two days, other than the bathroom and bed.  Still, she loses all her stuff.  I got a little basket for her to keep everything in.  It's a matter of time before I hear, "Where's my basket?"

Robin has finally discovered the beauty of Ibuprofen.  She's never taken it before because she was sure it would make her sick.  Like the kid who's never eaten something before, "I don't like that."  The Percocet wasn't touching the pain, so her doctor suggested she take Ibuprofen with it.  Much better.  So much so, she doesn't take the Percocet.  I got the prescription filled just in case.  One never knows when narcotics will come in handy.   

I am making the most of this situation.  I have never gone to bed with a dirty kitchen, but sometimes I wait and do the dishes later rather than sooner.  Drives her nuts.  So last night I left some dirty dishes within her vision.  I was planning on getting to them, but on Kim time, not Robin time. 

It's tricky juggling the dogs, but so far so good.  She must still have some Percocet in her system because I caught her being nice to Bodi this morning.

I have to work today 5-9.  Not bad, but tomorrow is 10-6 (Old Fart Day dammit) and I will be worried about her the whole time.  She does not know what nonweight bearing means and it's a matter of time before she tries it.  Oy.

Dear Winter, We're done. No Love, Kim

Got back from lunch break yesterday and Delores called me into the office.  "What now?" was my first thought.

D:  "Your mother called...."

Me (in my head):  "Oh my GOD...who's hurt?"

D:  (reading from notes)  "Robin fell in your driveway.  She slipped on ice.  Wally took her to the hospital and is with her now.  They think she broke her leg."

Me:  "Can I leave early?"

Long story short, I did leave a  little early, but not when I wanted to.  Like right then.

Got to the hospital and found Robin.  This was not our first rodeo when it comes to Robin and the ER.  Last time I met her there, the smell of the hospital made me so sick and I literally threw up.  (I'm very delicate.)  I must have looked awful because when the doctor came in, he thought I was the patient.  That's when she broke her hand. 

She had x-rays and sure enough, she fractured her tibia and fibula down by her ankle.  Took her to the orthopedist today and she is in a cast.  No weight bearing for six weeks.

Robin is a bad patient and I'm a bad nurse.  But I try to look at the bright side.  She is manic about getting the tree down before the new year.   If it was up to me, I'd leave it up until the needles started falling off and then some. In the past, I have gone to work between Christmas and the new year, and have come home to find my tree at the curb, usually with no less than five ornaments on it that she "didn't see".

Not this year.  I stopped watering the tree a few days ago in anticipation of the mess involved if there's still a lot of water in the tree stand.  Well guess what.  I watered that sucker to the rim last night.  I'm thinking of taking it down as a birthday present to her.  On February 19th.

My mom sent us tons of gift cards to various places, one of which was Lowe's.  Had visions of buying a snow shovel and some salt.  Or, if we don't get any more snow, maybe some flowers in the spring.  For some reason, I now see a sledge hammer in my mind and can't stop saying, "I know that, Mister Man."  You have to have seen Stephen King's "Misery" to get that one.  Robin saw it.  Robin is afraid.  I pulled into Lowe's on the way home from the doctor just to freak her out a little.

One of her friends just told her that she is at my mercy.  At my mercy.  I like that!!!!

PS:  I want to you to notice the can of dog food on the coffee table next to her meds in the first picture.  Her ashtray.

Floridiots!!!

That's what the people around here call the people who live in or just moved here from Florida.  Robin, originally being from FL, is truly a Floridiot.  I am more of what's referred to as a "halfback"  Born and raised in the north, lived in FL for a long time, and then moved half way back north.  Halfback. 

Robin is a Floridiot in more ways than one.  As you know, we are experiencing a ton of snow.  People are being advised to stay indoors and off the roads. 

About an hour ago, she asked me if I wanted to go to Main Street to look around and take some pictures.  I told her we shouldn't.  Rather than go back and forth and ultimately letting her get her way, I agreed.  Main Street is really really sweet and it is gorgeous now, I'm sure. 
 
First of all, the garage is flooded due to her having parked in there earlier with a car covered in snow.

Secondly, she said her brakes weren't working as we slid down the road.

As we got about 1/10 of a mile away, she turned pale white.  She was scared!  I was laughing so hard on the inside!  What did she expect?  She then decided it wouldn't be a good idea and we should turn around.  We stopped by her store because she needed chips.  I made the most of it and got some Heineken.  Hey, if I'm gonna be stuck indoors with her for days on end, I need to be armed.

Then the real fun began.  We could not get in our driveway.  We were doing donuts and sliding and she was freaking out.  She is a lot of things, but a freaker outter is not one of them.  Again, me with the laughing on the inside.  I think it was a nervous reaction.  After about 20 minutes, we finally got the car in the garage. 

Now she's upstairs calling all her peeps telling them about our near death experience.  I'm in the basement blogging about it.  It wasn't near death, but hopefully it'll teach Ms. Floridiot that she can't always be a daredevil.

PS:  That's a picture of me on my sled that I've had since 1968.  Schlepped it around all these years.

Brady says, "Sign me up for the next Iditarod immediately!"

Poor confused flamingo.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!!

You got your wish, Bodi!!! 

This is my girl (Hurricane Katrina rescue dog) watching it snow.  On Christmas! 

It wasn't supposed to start until this afternoon, but it came early. 

Once Robin gets home (noon), I feel a lot of  "and since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" coming on. 

Plan for the day:  Take a shower and put on my favorite PJ's which is really a velvetty navy blue dress - coziest thing I've ever owned, wait for Robin to get home at noon, make the prime rib and potatoes and creamed spinach, and open presents while the food cooks.  Or after we eat.  Or before.  Yeah, probably before ~ who am I kidding?  We have a big box of presents sent from my mom that, although I have been tempted to rip into it, has remained intact on the dining room table all week. 

It's a bitter sweet holiday.  Although the weather is absolutley perfect for Christmas, it would have been nice to have my family here.  Maybe next year.

What are your plans for today?

Whatever they are, remember the reason for the season and ENJOY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG!!!  ALL YOUR COMMENTS (here and on Facebook)  MAKE ME SO HAPPY (well, most of the time)!!!

Unbelievable!!!

We ate some of our Velveeta stuff. Robin then announced that she wanted spaghetti. Told her she was on her own, but first, I wanted to make some sausage balls. Got some cute Christmas plates today and want to take some sausage balls to a few neighbors and peeps.

I love to listen to my iPod (docking station) while cooking. The Cyndi Lauper version of "True Colors" ended and then "White Christmas" came on!!!!!! Then Jewel's "Ava Maria" came on!! So weird!!!!!! Then there was Susan Tedeski (spelled wrong) and some other faves. But to have two holiday songs randomly play on Christmas Eve was way cool!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Christmas Eve Din-Din

I was on call today, which meant I  had to call the store at 1:00 to see if I would need to work.  Having so much to do, I got up and out of here early.  Had to buy Robin and the animals a few last minute things and buy groceries for Christmas dinner and stock up for the impending snow storm.

After much deliberation, I decided to splurge on prime rib for tomorrow tonight.  That meant Christmas Eve dinner would be financially compromised.  We had talked about just getting some snacks, but that adds up.  Then it dawned on me!  Robin's favorite meal is spaghetti.  I have some homemade sauce in the freezer.  I  indulged (had to use the thesaurus on that one - almost said "splurge" again - yikes) on some garlic bread and ...VOILA, Christmas Eve dinner!!!  She'd be happy and I could use the extra savings to buy something more important than food...like dog bones.

Got everything done and home by 1:00.  $20.00 under budget, I might add.  Called the store - don't have to work.  (Three days in a row off for me!!!!!  Happy Christmas!!!  Plus it's gonna snow!!!)  Took Robin some lunch and she asked about dinner.  Proudly told her of my plan.  Got an "Oh." 

One of the things we had briefly discussed when we were thinking snacks  for dinner was the Velveeta Dip that I make about once a year.  Velvetta, hamburger and salsa.  That's it.  It's sinfully delicious.

"Why the 'oh'?"

"No, that sounds good."

"Then why the 'oh'?"

"I've been craving that Velveeta stuff ever since you mentioned it."

"You'll be happy with spaghetti".  (I didn't really say that.  Just trying to act like I'm the one who wears the pants in the family.)

So after I left her store, I took the remaining money and bought the ingredients for our White Trash Christmas Eve Dinner.  Came to $18.64.  What can I splurge on for $1.36?

'Nother day...'nother "Oh no he dint int!!!!!"

An older than me but not old old male customer and I were talking about not being with family this holiday season. He told me his son and daughter aren't able to make it home this year for the first time. I told him that I, too, will be away from my family for the first time. I, of course, was referring to my mom, Nelson, my brothers, niece and nephew.

He then asked me how old my kids are. In other words, "How old are your grown children?"

Bastard.

But the reality is, I certainly am old enough to have grown children. This comment caught me so off guard. When my mom was my age, I was a senior in college. I've never really put a lot of thought into it, but I'm SURE that if I'd had a kid at the age my mom was when she had me, my kid (daughter) would be graduating magna cum laude from an ivy league school this year. This after years of arguing why she should graduate from college, THEN become the super model.  22 years old IS NOT too old in this day and age.  Jeez, Alexandra Kay.  Listen to your mother.  (OK -- Perhaps the thought has crossed my mind.)

In Delores news...I worked late today. One of the girls told me that Delores needed to see me when I clocked out. Great. She called a few of us over and gave us Christmas gifts! Sweet! Then we (they) started talking about tomorrow. Supposed to hit 91, an all time high. WHAT???? 91?????? I thought it was supposed to snow.  I was then informed that the store was planning to reach $91,000.00 in sales. The average is around $50K in a day. Delores went on to say that between senior day (oh CRAP! It's Thursday ~ Geezer Day), the holidays AND the impending snow storm, our store is gonna be slammed.

I thanked D (I like that! D for Delores) for the gift, hugged it out and suggested she work on her pep talk skills.

Dreading tomorrow.

Fun Day at Harris Teeter!!!

I got to work at 8:00 a.m. and was the only cashier.  Word on the floor was that management was very nervous because the "big wigs" were coming in today.  Tension filled the air.  Emotions were high.  Soon thereafter, in walk a bunch of suits wearing name tags.  They had arrived.  The head of HR introduced herself and bought a roll for 60 cents and had to use her debit card.  Another suit bought a $2.00 flashlight for his wife's stocking.  Another one tested me with gum.  Fine.  I didn't suck.  I am a morning person by nature and smiling at 8:15 and being friendly doesn't kill me.

Then an older tall nice looking man came through my line.  No name tag.  He said, "Young Lady?  Does Santa have your list this year?"

I replied:  "Do you mean does Santa know what I want for Christmas?"

He nodded.

"Oh yes!  He's known for a while.  Months, in fact."  (Wanted to say, "A better paying job", but I didn't.)

"Any worries?"

"No Sir...I've been a very good girl."

He chuckled and walked away.

10 seconds later Delores came up to me and said, "Girrrrlllllll!  You just done flirted with the president of Harris Teeter!!"

Then later a customer actually said, "I can't find my cotton pickin' card."  I got a cotton pickin' kick out of that.

Then Robin came in and asked Delores very loudly why she hasn't fired me yet.  Delores said, "No ma'am. I love Miss Kim.  She's a keeper.  She's excellent."

I hate to toot my own horn (well maybe not "hate") but it does feel good to feel appreciated.   

Lunch

I love sandwiches. LOVE 'em!!!  BLT (with C, C meaning cheese, of course), Reuben, Bologna and Cheese, Ham and Cheese, Tuna Melts.  I could go on and on.  Could eat them for every meal. Robin, on the other hand, hates them. Said Iris made her eat sandwiches all the time growing up. I will admit, Iris does love her sandwiches, too.

A little while ago, Robin announced she was hungry for lunch.  As she stared into the pantry (that she had just organized), she said we don't have any food.  Told her I could make turkey sandwiches.  Got the evil eye.  I then joined her at the pantry and picked out a box of "Pasta Roni".  Shells and White Cheddar.

Me:  "Let's have this."

Her:  "We can't."

Me:  "Why not?  We have milk."

Her:  "No tuna."

Me:  "We don't need tuna."

Her:  "It says 'add tuna'."

Me:  "That's a suggestion.  You don't have to add tuna."

Her (loudly):  "IT SAYS 'ADD TUNA'."

Me (louder than her, thank you):  "THAT'S A SUGGESTION!!!!!"

Her:  "I don't want that."

Me:  "Fine.  I'm making it.  Fend for yourself."

As she watched me make the friggen MACARONI AND CHEESE, she announced that she'd have some.  She loved it and said we need to get some more.

People who know Robin and me as a couple never wonder why I drink.  Never.

It's the week of Christmas!

I love this time of year, especially my tree and sending out (and getting - there, I said it) Christmas cards.

This year...I have to admit...is gonna be a little sad for me.  I haven't spent every single Christmas with my family, not the exact day, but we have always gotten together for a few days sometime during the holidays.  Not this year.  It's weird to wrap and ship a box off to the crazy Jones/Frasier clan.   The store has played nonstop Christmas music since Thanksgiving.  No, I am not sick of it yet.  I do get a little choked up when I hear "I'll Be Home for Christmas".  Especially the last line, "if only in my dreams."  Somebody get my mother a tissue?

On Saturday, I was on the first register, which is closest to the free coffee area.  My store (Ha!  Last time I checked, my last name was not Harris OR Teeter) has free coffee, cookies and balloons.  All day, every day.  I love when I'm about to check someone out and get an "Oh, Dear?  Would you mind throwing this (their half full coffee cup) out for me?". So on Saturday, my back was to the coffee area and I had not been paying attention to what was going on behind me.  All of a sudden, a blue grass band started playing Christmas music.  REALLY LOUDLY!  I didn't know they were there and about jumped out of my skin!  Blue grass music - you either love it or you hate it.  No in between.  Guess how I feel about it.  Go on - guess!

My store is closed on Christmas.  Robin has to work from 6 a.m. til noon.  Not bad.  She just asked me when do I want to do our Christmas?  We agreed we'd make a nice meal and exchange little gifts when she got home.  I think she (she's JEWISH, BTW) had in mind doing Christmas before she went to work at 6.
Then I started thinking that I could make a nice meal that morning and have it ready when she got home.  Prime rib is really what I had in mind and I mentioned it to her. 

Me:  "What do you want to eat on Christmas?"

Her:  "I don't care."

Me:  "I know!  Prime rib!  How's that sound?"

Her:  "I want ham."

What an outstanding Jew she is.  It's fine though.  I'll buy some Jewish rye and have great ham and cheese sandwiches for a few days.

HO HO HO!!!!! (Not you, Faye.)

We have been without Internet since Friday. It's crazy how dependent I am on this thing. Was told Friday that 'they're working on it', but it likely wouldn't be turned on until Monday. Ugh!!!!

Then a Christmas miracle happened! After I threw my chicken in the crackpot a few hours ago, I decided to check my iPad for a connection. There it was!!! 68 emails - Facebook comments & and friend requests - my WW's message board!!!!

Merry Christmas to me!!


I was off today and other than some light cleaning and stuff, I watched episode after episode of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills". Cannot get enough of any of the "Housewives"!!

Being without Internet made me realize how much I google. For example, Faye Resnick was on "Beverly Hills Housewives". I knew the name. I recognized the face. But I could not place her.

Damn you Internet.

When I need to know something, I need to know it.  I need to google. I couldn't see the weather forecast. There was a recipe I wanted to track down. I don't know what's in my checking account. I need to know the Harris Teeter specials so I can coordinate sales with my coupons. It sucked.

But I'm back now and feel like myself again. You can't just quit the Internet cold turkey like that. I was very seizure-esque but am now on my way to recovery.

Thank you, Santa!!  ;)

And if you can't place Faye Resnick...google her.

Skinny Jeans ~~~

We all have them.  Jeans that would fit if only you could lose that 10-15 pounds.  Sure, some of us have single digit sizes and some of us have double digit sizes.  My skinny jeans are jeans that I'd gotten when we went to NYC a few years ago.  Nothing special about them, but I got them and wore them after having lost 45 pounds on Weight Watchers.  Shortly after that trip, I wasn't able to wear them comfortably.  Then there was the whole "The Biggest Loser" fiasco and I certainly wasn't able to wear them.  I packed them away and forgot about them.

Robin parked her car in the garage for the first time last night due to the weather.  We still have some unpacked bins and boxes down there.  I walked her out and a bin caught my eye.  Opened it up and it was full of jeans that haven't fit me in years. 

I am losing weight on this job.  The scale has definitely gone down.  For kicks, I decided to try on my skinny jeans to see how I measure up.

THEY FIT!!!!!!  I am about 15 pounds higher than I was when I wore them in NYC, so I figured I'd lose that amount and then see about trying them on.  When I tried them on just now, I certainly did not think they'd fit.  But they did!!!!   I shared a picture to prove it.

Guess these two prefer summer temps.

BRRRRR!!!!!!!

It's in the teens here.  With the wind chill factor, it's gonna feel like 3 or -3 tonight.  Not sure what they said, but does it really matter?  I have decided that the wind chill factor up here is the same thing as the humidity in Miami.  Temperature matters, of course, but the wind chill and humidity are really what makes things uncomfortable. 

We watched the news before going to bed two nights ago.  They talked about snow, but my take on it was that it would hit higher up in the mountains.  We're up there, but they do go higher.  So I was surprised, to say the least, when Robin woke me up at 5:00 yesterday morning, squealing with delight at the sight of snow.  It was/is very pretty, I have to admit.  But she has become obsessed with the weather now.  She is constantly watching the news, looking outside, calling her friends, and telling me things like, "How cool is it that we have snow?"  It's cool.  Or "Look how beautiful!" It's beautiful.  Or "I can't believe how cold it is!"  It's cold. 

We're in for a lot more snow and coldness.  I think it's here to stay.  The novelty is bound to wear off for Robin.  Then it'll be more like, "I can't believe all the effing snow."  And  "I'm can't believe how effing cold it is."

Getting ready for a snow storm is very similar to preparing for a hurricane.  I didn't think the people of NC drank much.  Afterall, there is only one liquor store in NC.....ABC.....someone told me there are no other liqour stores.  And they're not the nice ABC's like in FL, where you can get nice cheeses and fancy chips and stuff like that.  Very basic and generic.  However, the grocery stores do sell beer and wine and boy did I sell a bunch yesterday and the day before.  The people of NC drink afterall!

I think the dogs are adapting well, as you can see from the pictures.  Except for Baxter.  Although...when the neighbor drove up the other day and got out of his car to give the dogs treats, they all went flying through the snow, Baxter leading the way.

Wonder why I'm tired.

I left the house today at 10:00. Stopped by Robin's store and had random strangers look at my car to see if I need anti-freeze. Majority says I'm good for now, but it could use a flush out. Soon. Stopped by a car place. Little girl at front desk said her daddy would help me shortly. Waited waited waited. Left. After all, I'm good for now. Did some very careful and thoughtful Christmas shopping at many different stops. I know my nephew loves "Spider Man" and I hope the other one was "Iron Man". Stopped at five different stores for cheap, yet thoughtful gifts. Got home around 1:00, when Robin was due home. Had a few minutes, went to call my mom to see if my nephew likes "Iron Man" (he better), saw I had a call from HT...can I come in two hours early. Rushed to get ready and made it by 2:00.

IT WAS A #%^><€ MAD HOUSE !!!!!

Why? Cuz it's gonna snow. Big effing deal.

This is like hurricane preparedness in reverse, if that makes sense.

Worked my ASS off. Went in early and was asked to work late. Fine. Whatever.

Got home and Robin had prepared a beautiful dinner. She just went to bed. I became manic. She thinks I died of thirst in a former life. I filled every single thing I could with water. Not sure why. All I know is I sold a lot of water today. I even went through my recycle bin for anything I could fill with water. Not dog food cans, if you're thinking I'm that crazy. Just a milk gallon, a couple of two liter soda bottles, stuff like that.

She's gonna wake up and think WTF. For the record...she's more WTF and I, being the much nicer and ladylike of the two, am more of a WTH. H meaning heck, of course.

Great.

Had a dream that James Brolin wanted me.  Bad. 

Just what I need...to be on Babs' bad side.

It's just a matter of time before I'm appointed "Employee of the Month"!!

Last night (I was supposed to be off, remember?), one of my very nice customers came through my line.  She bought a six pack of some kind of Pale Ale (reminded me of Ingrid) and about six of the things pictured above.  Her total came to around $55.00.

I am not a crafty person, but over the summer while garage saling with Iris, I bought a bag full of those things.  Not exactly, but close enough.  They were more autumny.  I paid $3.00 for the bag and thought that was high.  The seller assured me that I was getting a good deal and told me how expensive they were at Michael's.  They were like $3.00 each at Michael's.  She was right and I made a beautiful fall wreath with the stuff.

When I rang this lady up last night, I stared at her purchases.  $55.00 for a six pack and six of those thingys.  I told her how that was too expensive and I didn't think she should buy the stuff.  Told her my garage sale story and maybe Michael's would have them for cheaper.  She agreed and I voided the entire transaction.  Except for the beer.

That'll teach HT to call me in on my day off.

BTW...Robin got a tweed Ralph Lauren jacket today at a thrift store for 50 CENTS!!!!!!

Oh, I want to mention...this could be a new section of my blog...running it through planning and development. 

A man bought Dole Watermelon Juice.  I had to try it - FABULOUS!!  Someone else bought Paul Newman's Remoulade Sauce.  Haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure it's good.  Didn't know you could buy that in the store.  Delores was pretty excited too.  Good times.

I need it to stop. Seriously.

At around 3:30 this afternoon, my day off, I was sitting around giving Robin her daily pre-work pep talk.  "It's not forever. At least it's something.  You'll find something decent after the first."  The usual.  Then the phone rings.  Caller ID says, "Harris Teeter".  I knew what it would be and I answered. "Hello?" "Hello?  May I speak with Kim please?"  "This is Kim."   "Hi Kim!  It's Delores from Harris Teeter."  Felt like saying, "DUH...."

Long story short, she asked me to come in for a few hours and I agreed.  Every few hours is a Christmas present for someone and all I had planned was starting on some Christmas cards.  I went to make sure I had a clean outfit (a/k/a "uniform") and I did.  I got ready and when I went to get dressed, my shirt, my HT shirt that I had JUST SEEN, had disappeared.  I had to wear a regular nonHT blue shirt.  No biggie, BUT WHY ARE THESE THINGS HAPPENING TO ME?

I know I saw it because it was folded in a pile of clothes and I remember knocking over a pink shirt when getting it out of the pile and thinking how cute the pink shirt is and I should wear it. 

I appreciate the Facebook suggestions and will look into each of them.  One of you mentioned menopause.  Glad Robin doesn't Facebook.  She would so run with that one.  She thinks I am beginning it.  She so badly wants me to go through it before her, even though she's four years older than me.  I say bring it.  I have really held back on the this blog when wanting to describe how working with severe cramps, a backache and a uterus that feels like it's hanging down to my knees feels. 

So, come on menopause.  Stop the periods and stop the insanity. 

I AM losing it.

Robin has teased me for a while that I am losing my mind.  I think she may be right.

1)  About a week ago I lost my car keys.  I am not a loser.  (Well, I kinda am, but not a loser of things.)  I was parked behind Robin and she had to walk to work.  I found them hours later on the bed in the guest room.  I don't know how this happened because I am very particular about things like where I put my keys, my phone, my purse, etc.  Hate having to wonder around aimlessly (like Robin does ~ all day every day) looking for things.

2)  I guess, by law, or at least HT rules, when you work X number of hours, you must take a break and a lunch.  A few days ago, at around 4:30, (I got off at 5:00) Delores came up to me at asked if I'd taken my break and my lunch.  Told her yes to both.  Minutes later another supervisor came up to me and said, "Either you're crazy, or I'm crazy, but I don't think you took a break."  Told her jokingly, "I think I would know if I took a break or not".  She said she'd go check the computer.  As I was thinking to myself how ridiculous this was and how I knew I'd taken a break, she came back and said, "You never took a break."  So at 4:35, I took a 15 minute break.  Went back and worked 10 minutes, then left.

That made me really start to wonder about myself. 

3)  I am off today and tomorrow.  On call on Wednesday.  So yesterday was my Friday.  I knew my hours yesterday were 11:00 - 5:00.  Not bad.  My body is adjusted to an eight hour day now, so six hours feels like nothing.  (Still losing weight, BTW!!!)  Robin's store is on the way to my store.  Her store is about two minutes away from home.  Mine is about three to four minutes away, depending on whether or not I feel like cutting through the SteinMart parking lot.  I always leave 20 minutes before I have to be at work.  I stop and visit Robin and get free soda.  (I'm so lucky.) 

I KNEW my hours were 11:00 - 5:00 yesterday.  At 10:55, I was very surprised when the house phone rang and it was Robin. 

Her:  "Where are you?"

Me:  "Uh.  I think it's pretty obvious.  I'm home."

Her:  "You're supposed to be at work at 11:00."

Me:  "Holy $%^$;!!!  I gotta go!!!"

While I was supposed to be leaving the house, I was busy taking pictures of Baxter and putting them here.  Nonchalantly.  Not a care in the world.  I also nonchalantly made dinner in advance (fajitas) because I had all this extra time. 

I honestly don't know what happened.  It is really concerning.   I called work and was able to get there only 15 minutes late.  (Didn't stop for my free soda....I mean....to visit Robin.)  Luckily, I had already showered so I put on about 30 seconds worth of makeup, got dressed and flew out the door.  No coat.  Wet hair.  It was about 28 degrees.  I mentioned it to a supervisor at work, the one who advised me I had indeed NOT taken a break.  Told her I think I am losing my mind.  She told me it's the weather.  I'm thinking I shouldn't have confessed that.  They'e probably really gonna be watching me now.  I would be watching me.

Speaking of weather.  I think living in NC is finally sinking in.  In FL, the cold snaps are few and far between.  It is unusually cold, supposedly, here right now.  High today will be 30.  55 is normal.  Gone are the days of 60 one day and 85 the next.  I am not complaining, mind you.  I like the coldness.

Now I'm gonna go eat dinner, then jump in the pool and try to figure out where I left my mind.

Hey!  Wanna have some fun?  Notice my new pink dog?  Put your mouse on the bag of dog treats and drag it to the dog's mouth.  Weeeeeeee.....YAAAAAYYY....clap clap clap!!!!!!

WTH!!!!  Where's the pool?

Poor Baxter :(

His new dog bed didn't stand a chance.  Barely made it 12 hours before his brothers and sister got ahold of it.

Highlights of my day.....

A 12 pack of Diet Pepsi fell and I tried to grab it.  I kinda sorta hurt my right wrist when doing so and gave out a little, "Shit", in the mean time.  (Not literally, thank you.  I swore.)  Two customers were very nice and acted concerned.  I did not report it and now understand all those 20 something years worth of claimants saying, "I kept working, thinking it would get better." 

I kept working, but it was sore.  About a half an hour later, I managed to drop a dozen eggs on a customer's groceries while they were still in the cart.  The lady was very nice, but the mean bag boy/man was pissed because he had to replace all the groceries while I stood there.  (Then he had to clean the floor.  Tee hee.) 

I stopped by Robin's store on the way home and was loitering while drinking free soda. (I'm so lucky.)  The mean bag boy/man came in a few minutes later, without thinking, I was cheerful and like, "Heyyyy!!!  What are you doing here?"  He totally ignored me. 

There actually IS a highlight of my day, I think.  The next door neighbor (not the nice one) has a beautiful dog that he keeps chained up 24/7.  The dog looks like a husky.  Actually, he looks like a wolf.  He's gorgeous.   I have kept my nose out of it, even though it has bothered me every single day since we moved here.  Robin told me at first that she saw him take the dog to work with home, so that made me feel better.  Plus we had a big vine that took over the fence and I really couldn't see over there.  Well that vine is dead now and for the past few days, whenever I looked over there, that dog is just lying (laying?  I don't know this one) listless on the ground.  So I have managed to keep my nose out of it.  Until last night.  It is getting really cold here and after a little liquid encouragement, I anonymously called the police department (did NOT dial 911 - called the regular number) and reported it.  Was told someone would be sent out.  The dog was there this morning, but when I got home from work, he was gone, as far as I could tell.  Fingers crossed this has a good ending.  Either he has him inside or they took him to a shelter.  The dog is very meek and mild.  All my heathens can be barking at him and he doesn't bark back.  Seems very adoptable.

And, BTW, Mom?  I know what you're thinking, "Oh Kim!  What if your neighbor reads your blog?"  A)  I doubt he has a computer and 2)  I doubt he can read. 

And "The Most Interesting Customer of the Day" Award goes to.....

The little old lady who bought a thing of "KY Jelly", a big bag of BIG zucchinis and some "Tucks".

I promise you ~~~ I am not kidding. 

This may be a picture of her later in the day.  A cigarette probably wasn't enough.

Again.  Not kidding.

Pssst....

Robin has a blog of her own...visit

http://mylifeinadjectives.blogspot.com/

Sign up and follow!!!!

I now hate Thursdays.

Thursday used to be an OK today.  Day before Friday.  Weekend is right there.  Just have to get through Friday and it's allllll good.

Now I hate Thursday.  Thursday is Senior Citizen Day at HT.  You get 5% off your total purchase if you're over 60.

Thursday now sucks.

The store  is flooded with "seniors" on Thursday. 

They stand there with their scrunched up faces fixated on the screen making sure every item is rung up properly.  Some of them?    Some of them, I think their lower lip is gonna swallow up their nose and suck their face inside their neck, it's so scrunched up. 

The nicer ones announce themselves...

"It's old farts' day.  I'm an old fart." 

"I'm a geezer.  Gimme my discount."

"I'm not old, but my wife is."  (Sounds like something Nelson (my step father) would say.)

"Notice my gray hair?"

"One good thing about being 60."  (Too bad that one was 75 - easily.)

"I'm a senior."  Wink.

"I'm 63 years old."  (Really?  Then I'm 23.)

Do you know how many times I just wanted to say, "NO SHIT?" today???

One cute old lady said, "What's with all the old people?"  I liked her.

But they all, every single one of them, at the end of the transaction, said, "Did you give me my discount?"

I am so pleased with myself!!!!

If you haven't noticed, I have been putting off getting a coat.  A)  Will I really use it? and 2)   I don't want to spend a bunch of money on something that I may wear a few times a year.

I have learned over the past few days here in Western North Carolina that I do need a coat.

Got paid today and figured that half my check would have to go toward a coat.  I've been looking but nothing has jumped out at me.

Until today.

We went to Iris' favorite thrift store (benefits 'Meals on Wheels') as an afterthought on our way to the 'Humane Society' thrift store.   Figured, why not?  What's the harm in looking?  It's on the way.

Drum roll please.

I found a full length, like new, lined, LONDON FOG coat.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~FOR FOUR DOLLARS~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had Robin take a picture of me as I modeled my new purchase.

$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...$4...