Two months have gone by and so much has happened.

Hello Friends.  I apologize that it's been so long since I've spoken to you all.  So much has happened.

First, my Aunt Eleanora is still with us.  Praise God. However her husband, George Gilbert has passed on.  I would like to hope he is with God, however I do not know.  I pray for the repose of his soul.  Even though it's been a month since he passed, I still pray for him. 

Second, I have come to realize how incredibly blessed I am to have my son Aaron.  Through tangled interwebs, I have come across other mothers who have been incredibly blessed to have their children for a few years, weeks, and in one case, days.  It makes me incredibly sad to read those stories, yet it makes me want to hold Aaron just a little bit tighter.  I'm honestly contemplating going and waking him up so I can hold him.  Although that may be selfish and I may just wait until the morning.

Third, I think this is all stemming from the fact that for the past month (and the next month) I am working 6 day weeks.  I am trying to save up money so that we can go visit my parents in South Carolina for Thanksgiving.  Additionally, Aaron will get to meet his Great Grandparents for the first time.  They are soooo excited and I am trying my hardest to make it work.  In case you all didn't know or weren't aware, we have to rent a car each time we travel out of state, due to the enormous quantity of crap that needs to be brought with us.  We are definitely bringing:
--the Pack 'n' Play
--his chair (he needs somewhere to sit)
--our suitcases
--his stroller (large travel-system style)

I am contemplating bringing:
--his exersaucer
--the booster part of his highchair

Hear me out...we're leaving Wednesday afternoon, stopping overnight in Beckley WV (halfway) and then continuing on to Greenville, SC the next day.  We'll be gone half of Wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, and sunday.  We'll be eating thanksgiving dinner and he needs somewhere to sit (Highchair).  Additionally, we'll be gone for 3 - 4 WHOLE. DAYS.  The kid is going to need some sort of stimulation (exersaucer).  The problem is, I don't know if it's all going to fit.  Or if it's even necessary.  Comments and Suggestions are gratefully appreciated.

Fourth, I just found out our babysitter can no longer watch Aaron.  She is pregnant again and her doctor has advised that she no longer babysit due to potential stress on the unborn child.  She told me this last monday.  I have nowhere else to put him and no one who can watch him.  This has caused quite a predicament.  Fortunately, Frank's parents can watch him during the month of November.  If they couldn't, I don't know what I would do as I am working every possible hour of overtime that I can just to go to South Carolina and I cannot possibly afford an additional $130 a month for Daycare at this point in time. Oh and...
I DO NOT WANT TO PUT HIM BACK IN CENTER BASED CARE!!!  The last time we had him in center based care, he ended up having a diaper rash SO BAD that his poor little skin was cracked and bleeding.  Our Pediatrician made us pull him out.  I am extremely leery of putting him into another Day Care.  However I may have to swallow my pride.  If I could only get my debt paid off (about 5k), I could take a pay cut and possibly work part time.  Such is a dream but probably not reality. 

Oh well...

So that's what's been going on with me.  What's up with you?  Leave a comment.

A Quick Thought

Today's post is going to be rather short and without much thought.  I apologize as there has been a family emergency, and I am in the midst of laundry & packing so we can leave tomorrow morning. 

Today at Service, we spoke about Christ's Followers (Sheep) and His fans (Goats).

This led me to remember the song by Cake -- Sheep go to Heaven (Goats go to Hell).  The lyrics are below:

I’m not feeling alright today
I’m not feeling that great
I’m not catching on fire today
love has started to fade

I’m not going to smile today
I’m not gonna laugh
you're out living it up today
I’ve got dues to pay

And the grave-digger puts on the forceps
The stone mason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch

I just want to play on my pan-pipes
I just want to drink me some wine
as soon as you're born you start dying
so you might as well have a good time

Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats… go to hell

I don't wanna go to sunset strip
I don't wanna feel the emptiness
bold marquees with stupid band names
I don't wanna go to sunset strip

I don't wanna go to sunset strip
I don't wanna feel the emptiness
Bold marquees with stupid band names
I don't wanna go to sunset strip

And the grave-digger puts on the forceps
The stone mason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch

I just want to play on my pan-pipes
I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dying
So you might as well have a good time

Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats… go to hell

And the grave-digger puts on the forceps
The stone mason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch

I just want to play on my pan-pipes
I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dying
So you might as well have a good time

Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats… go to hell

So the question is.....are you a Sheep, or are you a Goat?

Society Today

Has anyone else noticed the recent downward spiral of society lately?  When did we all turn into rude, narcissistic people?  When did the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many or the few?  I don't know about you, but if you've worked in any form of Customer Service recently (be it retail, in a call center, wherever), you've probably noticed the increase in just general discourse and plain nasty attitudes. 

Which brings me to the elephant in the room -- AKA Stephen Slater. 

Yes, the infamous (current? former?) Jet Blue Flight Attendant who snapped out and took a ride down the bouncy slide. 

First, I'm going to point out the obvious:  Yes, it was completely, totally, unabashedly unprofessional.  I do not condone it in any way, shape or form.  I can, however, understand why he snapped.

In the Customer Service field, We deal w/rude, condescending, narcissistic and unapologetic people every day.  They are never wrong, even when it's blatantly obvious they are. We get cussed out, spit on, and sometimes physically assaulted. Yet it's our fault for defending ourselves or reacting to a situation like a human being.  We are expected to just sit back and take it.  This whole "The only person who is important is me and screw everyone else" culture needs to end. Until it does, I predict more people will continue to snap out and react, simply because they didn't want to take it anymore and finally stood up for themselves.

The only thing is...when someone finally does snap out (a-la Stephen Slater), and others label them a "hero" for walking off the job in the manner they so chose, it is almost laughable for the one (essentially quitting their job at that moment) to even *consider* the notion of getting their job back.

So make sure you really, and I mean REALLY mean it before you make national news. 


Just Sayin'.

New at this

OK so I finally, *finally* set up a blog.  Yay for me.  LOL 

It's not about jumping on a bandwagon nor is it about feeling left out.  I simply felt that I needed an outlet for my feelings or I was going to explode. 

Or get fired.

Neither of which is a viable option. 

So I ask you to be patient of me while I learn this whole new world.  Additionally, please note that my posts are my own.  They are not representative of anyone I live with, work with or work for.  Which is why I used my nickname instead of my real name (although I answer to both). 

I just hope that whomever reads my postings will find them thought-provoking.  I'm not looking for others to agree with me, but one thing I will demand is respect.  Comment all you like, as much as you like.  Have discussions in the comments -- This is meant to foster communication and ideas -- but do it respectfully.

That's all I have to say for now.

~Audra~