So proud of Hubby, he not only cleared his junk, but put several heavy items upstairs. Ginger was here, cleared the rest of the top kitchen cabinets. We had bought plastic (has to be Rubbermaid) containers to put food. Ginger had removed my china dishes from dining cabinet on an earlier clean, that's where we put the food. Ya see, Larry the contractor (not Larry the plumber from "Blue Collar") is going to be here Monday to cover my hardwood floors. So everything must be removed including this computer and desk that I'm typing on. He will seal off this room (dining) which is the gateway to the bathroom. Well Grandma will have to huff & puff upstairs to that bathroom for a couple days. Then Larry will put plastic walls and a passageway thru dining rm, to laundry & bath.

Those 3 Victorian homes we got to see inside had such small kitchens, I'm glad ours was remodeled in the 1920's, 40's, 60's, and now a century later. I'm concerned that I may be updating the kitchen too modern for the style of this house. I'll be losing privacy by opening up the wall between kitchen/ dining. But like I said, it's my choice. The cabinet style will have an old fashioned look. Let's face it, the 1960's remodel was pretty bad with the olive green sink and dark wood cabinets. But their choice to close off several unuseful doors was great. I'm picking light-Maple wood. I have not decided on counter tops yet. But I do get my island, yeah! Ceramic tile, I like the look, but cleaning the grout, yuk.

Want to put your 2 cents in? You're invited.

Do you want to hear about Maurice the ghost? let me know...

Thought I would tell about some really beautiful Victorian homes. Some were in disrepare, but if you can imagine a whole neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles. Ok, what some people don't realize is that in L.A., most of us are afraid to go downtown. It is very hilly, this was the very first suburb in L.A. built in 1887. These homes have been saved from the wrecking ball after a huge home was destroyed by owner in the 1970's. A group of Angelinos got together to save historical places. If anyone drives the 101 freeway, just past the Music Center and Disney Concert Hall, Carroll Avenue is on the north side of the 101, off Echo Park. Kids, you remember Angeles Temple? It is just beyond & higher up hill from that.

Hubby & I have been going to historical coalition meetings quarterly now for several years. This is the first time I have been to Carroll Ave, and I've always wanted to go there. The next meeting is in October, and guess where? Our town of Norwalk. I told some that they could drive by to see my Victorian house. This monologue makes me miss Ohio, where old homes are taken such good care of.

Ok, that's all folks, gotta get up early to continue to get stuff moved out of kitchen, dining room & living rm (parlour). Ginger is willing to help, she's on my payroll.

The contractor came over today to give us an estimate, which is less than the heart attack estimates we have had. Of course, now we can't even afford the cabinets, we probably need to borrow more money. Someone said, that we could have bought a new house with everything in it for what we're spending on these remodels. Oh well! That is the choice we made. Now I know how much the houses on "This Old House" are costing to have them remodel with their wazoo tools.

Well, now it starts... removing every single thing from the kitchen and dining room, trying to find places to put everything. Karlene, that piano is becoming more of a problem than it is worth, we may have to give it away. The computer desk needs moved to living room, Dad needs to move his junk from around his chair, so we can get thru the room, and move everything else down.

Ok, I'm off, we're going to see Victorian Houses in Los Angeles tonight, it may give me hope for ours! I told you we got a beautification award from our city? Well it's so nice to see our house pictured in print, with the other 20 houses.

Well I'm over the bad feelings, now I'm trying to figure what is the next door I walk thru. I guess the point is to keep moving, I feel like I'm on the "Haunted Mansion" ride at Disneyland. You see this long hallway of doors, some are rattling, some open, and you see scary monsters, or some ... Anyway the unknown is like that. Has anyone in blogland went to ? Guru.com has job postings and I've tried to get jobs and nothing yet. Song, "You ain't seen nothin yet, bbbaby you ain't seen nothin yet." Who sings that?

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona/ Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C. /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Bad news for the bears and me...

The Bears are fine, but, I've been terminated, and I won't be back to work.

I don't want to go into the conversation that my boss said to me, but aparently, he had a 3 strike rule that I did not know about. Oh yea, he did change the rules to suit himself, and after 6 weeks of training, WITH NO PAY! he decides he has had enough of me asking to get paid. He did NOT want me to answer the phones, even tho I was professional sounding, and he was not in office, and the other guy was inundated with calls.

Ok, this happened yesterday at 9:45 am on my way to pick up flyers to bring to a job measure in a few minutes. Then the boss sent the co-worker out the door and said he wanted to talk to me. He said we had clashed 3 times since I had been there. I tried to explain that I was just learning my lap top, which he wanted me to buy, that took some of my kitchen money. I was learning the program that he downloaded, I was new to the kitchen business, and had learned a lot by "working" there. He hired this other guy from WA state, the same time he ASKED me if I wanted a job; then he asked the new guy to train me. WE were both trainees, although Tim (other guy) had worked the kitchen business in WA for 8 yrs. AND which Tim had no time to train me, cuz he was trying hard to fulfill his own end of the business, (oh, with a salary, and commision).

So here I was learning everything on my own, trying to ask simple questions, and hearing these answers from Tim, "I have no time for this... hold on, hold on." then the phone would ring. You want to know who helped me the most at work? It was the older brother, helped teach my computer & the software. A Rep that came into the store helped Tim & I learn more about the software & the kitchen cabinets I am planning to buy.

My questions before I was rudely dismissed, what about the cabinets I want to buy, which was the reason to come into his store in May? And will he give a good reference for my resume? His answer to the 1st question was, "you can buy your cabinets at an employee discount, its the least I can do for you being here for 6 weeks." To the 2nd question he said, "I cannot give you a good recommendation at this time." That's when I started crying. Oh, so what about the couple that I was going to measure right now? He said he would handle them. Ok, so I leave to buy a wedding gift, and my cell phone rings... it is the girl whose kitchen I was to go measure. I said for her to call the store and talk to boss. So more rudeness from him!

I told Karlene this story, she said to not even go back to buy cabinets from there! OOH, I am soo mad, confused, angry, pissed off. And hubby wants to go hurt someone there. Where is my faith now? Maybe I was only there to design my own kitchen, hey, I still have a spec book for my cabinets, maybe contractor and & I can design our own, and get it ordered direct from the company.

So now after writing this, I'm still crying. On our way to a wedding yesterday afternoon, I said, "I hate to be sad at a happy event, cuz my photos turn out sad!" So vain! So Hubby and I talked (nicely) and I started to feel a little better. Then I got to dance at the reception and FELT A LOT BETTER!! Yeah for dancing and acting like a fool! Even tho my kids make fun of me having Fun! Will you guys just let me have my fun, will you enjoy life and endure hardships with me?

I love you!
Rae

Another great day, Praise the LORD!

Went by myself to measure a kitchen in a very nice neighborhood. Then went to the Great Indoors, spent the rest of the afternoon there. They have many kitchens, and I asked 2 people if they'd like to save money on cabinets? then gave the address & phone #'s. Wow, 2 leads, all by myself.

Today, went with co-worker to the biker' house, it was fine, he has a wife & kid, and very nice Harley's in a clean garage. He just wants to update his 70's kichen. And I can design it. Co-worker said the biker will probably peel off some 100's to pay for cabinets in cash. Then went back to work, to design in air-condtioned office. Told the boss about Great Indoors, he said I might have been unethical in giving out info of our cabinet place.

Hey my own Grandfather, Mom's dad, had a Harley in the 1920's, that's how he dated my Gradmother in a side car! We have the old photo copied & scanned, but alas, I cannot find it to show you.

Saturday, I got 3 leads, cuz the boss introduced me as an associate. Made 3 appointments for kitchen measures, one was a Harley biker dude. Well we will see how many cabinets result from these leads. My boss likes the way I relate to people and how they gravitate toward my friendliness. Thanks boss! He said # 1 is people skills, which I have; next is product knowledge; third, closing the sale. Sounds like I need to hone up on Zig Ziglar books or tapes.

Thank God for baby boy, grandson, Karlene just found out! Praise the Lord for good health!

Our date was great, I danced a lot! Bruce one, me 100 dances. Hey this DJ, actually played his own music with electric organ, trumpet, a little background music, and his voice! All oldies, Yeah Frankie, she turned 70 yrs old, was born in England, during WW II; she met her hubby, an American Airman stationed in England in 1967.

Today I went to church, went to lunch at Mimi's Cafe, then to foot spa. Came home watched "Million Dollar Baby" really enjoyed it! Now, talking to you in blogland, going to prepare for my 2 leads tomorrow, one far away, one biker dude that I will postpone until other co-worker can go with me. It's just that this guy reminds me of my bro who is homeless in Homeland. Hey Bry, you might see him in Hemet. Grandma got a PO box to send him a phone card. If I sound a little skeptical, its cuz how many times does a prodigal son return, and keep returning? And never learns from past mistakes, or admits that he made the mistakes, instead of blaming everyone else? My mom, and I have differences of opinion and I guess it's cuz it is her son. Boy, let her say anything negative about my youngest son, and I go ballistic! OK, nuff said, God will sort us all out, and there is absolutely no room for me to judge! Forgive me now, forgive you all, forgive my hurts from other people, forgive me for hurting others. You have heard that hurting people, hurt people? Well that's why I am in therapy and anti-depressant. I am getting better, with God's help, and you for listening. Thanks now I want my joy back!

These jokes are from friend Jackie:


WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST

She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.


WOMEN'S REVENGE (Rae's favorite)

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. "So, do you always carry your TV remote?" I asked. "No," she replied, " but my husband refused to come shopping with me, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally."


UNDERSTANDING WOMEN! (A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE)

I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root, and still be afraid of a spider.


MARRIAGE SEMINAR

While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."
He addressed the man, "Can you describe your wife's favorite flower?"
Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn't it?" The rest of the story gets rather ugly, so I'll stop right here.

CIGARETTES AND TAMPONS

A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up and down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him. He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife. She directs him down the correct aisle. A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter. She says, confused, "Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife?" He answers, " You see, it's like this. Yesterday I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling
papers - cause it's soooooo much cheaper. So, I figure if I have to roll my own ............ so does she.
(This guy could be the one on the milk carton! )


WIFE VS. HUSBAND (Oh, to have thought this up myself)

A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats,
and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."


WORDS

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men... The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"


CREATION

A man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time." The wife responded, "Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!"


WHO DOES WHAT

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee." The husband said, " You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee." Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me."
So she got the Bible, opened it to the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says.......... "HEBREWS"


PASS THESE ALONG.

Live well, Love much, Laugh often

I've been tagged by Karlene

10 Years Ago: Calming down after Kandy's wedding, president of some PTA, boys in acting- show biz, like "Flintstones" ( met Spielburg), or "Casper", check out Bryan at end, he looks like an old man.

5 Years Ago: setting Y2K supplies in garage, then watching Philip graduate HS, working at the HS my kids went to, got a wedding quilt done for Kandy 5 yrs later.

1 Year Ago: Summer off from college, bathroom remodel, preparing for trip to Ohio.

Yesterday: Babysat 2 grandsons, drove around in the heat, let them see where I work now, ate at Red Chili (ha ha Kandy), contractor here cutting holes in kitchen to see what he will charge for remodel (same guy as last year).

Today: Babysat 2 grandsons while mom & dad went to ultrasound, she told me what the sex is, and I was right, but can't tell you until they tell boys. Hee Hee I was right!

Tomorrow: Going out on a REAL DATE with my boyfriend and first husband (and only husband) we get to dress up semi-formal, woo woo sexy! Hey maybe we'll make-out in the back seat like we used to. Hey no comments like "La La La, we don't want to hear this, gross, mom!"

5 snacks I like: Trail mix from Cosco- the fruit & nut kind, food bars, carrots, fresh fruit, Cheerios & milk.

5 bands/singers I know the lyrics to most of their songs: Beach Boys- "California Girls"; Bruce Springsteen, "Born in the USA"; Credence Clearwater, "Proud Mary"; and "Stuck in Lodi"; "R.E.S.P.E.C.T", by Aretha Franklin. Oh yes, and I will Dance!

5 things I could do with $100,000,000: Tithe, give some to family, pay off the mortgage, take a trip to Europe, finish remodeling & redecorating!

5 locations I'd like to run away to: A beautiful Bed & Breakfast where I'm pampered, Germany, France, Vienna, A spa at any of those locations.

5 bad habits I have: Nagging, being bosy, trying to tell someone my advice when they didn't ask me, not cleaning up after myself.

5 things I like doing: Scrapbooking, sewing, go to the beach, eating vanilla ice cream, watching grandkids.

5 things I would never wear: The color green, orange lipstick or nail polish, my husband's underware, spike heels.

5 TV shows I like: Re-runs of "I love Lucy", "Little House on the Prairie", Big Brother House, Gilmore Girls, Blue-Collar t.v.

5 movies I like: Gone with the wind; Sound of Music; Princess Bride; Oklahoma!; Romeo & Juliet, 1969 version.

5 famous people I'd like to meet: Jesus Christ; Mel Gibson (for real this time); President Bush; Maya Angelou; Aretha Franklin;

5 biggest joys at the moment: God, my grandkids, my 2 best friends, college, good music.

5 favorite toys: Internet, my new laptop, VCR, DVD, sewing machine.

I'm tagging:
Bruce, if he gets his own blog
Philip- does he have one I don't know about?
Sarah his wife
Kristin-(Bryan's wife) what's her blog?

Yesterday, had a tooth pulled in back by an oral surgeon. Took all of today to lay around recovering from pain. Well at least I have a flexible job that I can call, if no appointments, then I don't go in.

Sat, had 2 leads, and the bosses still don't think I'm ready to measure a kitchen, draw their plan, submit a bid on my own. I guess they don't see something I see. Oh well, keep you posted on my progress, with job and with kitchen. My kitchen won't even start as soon as I wanted, we still need to order cabinets, then wait a month for installation. Today the appliances arrived into our garage. Hey, they don't come in boxes anymore, now the grandkids won't have a playhouse.

Good ole Ginger cleaned my dining room, boxed up china from cupboard, we both took everything off walls and floor. Now stuff is back in the guest room awaitng the remodel. I really thought that the kitchen would be torn up by now, I'm not complaining, I'll tell you when I'm whining. It will sound like Lucy, it won't be a good site. Maybe I'll tell you after the fact so you don't actually hear me whine. My mom says, "Do you want some cheese with that wine?" I think my dad used to say that.

Kandy, can you think of some Grandpa Bob-isms? If you want I'll tell some of his "Barefoot boy with shoes on..." jokes. Bryan what is the word for those backward sayings?

July 4th was fun at Karlene & Bob's. Bob loves to BBQ, Karlene makes a great jello, and decorates good. I brought Upwords game and played with my mom and son, Bryan. I was winning until I wanted to go hear the Rock & Roll concert across the street at the park. Song: "Saturday, in the park, I think it was the 4th of July..." I kept thinking it was Saturday, so now my whole week has been screwed up.

Work is going well, I got my first lead on(the real)Saturday. Then Tuesday (my Monday)went with the VP (other new guy)to get the kitchen measurements. He did the measure, while I wrote them down. Next day, he wanted me to draw just the walls. May I explain to you that I have taken a whole month to learn the computer software, designing my own complicated kitchen; and he did not think I was ready to design a stranger's kitchen. Oh well, live and learn, which is what I am doing at this place, Learning before Earning.

My contractor came over today. He will come back on Wed to knock holes in a wall to see if we can open up the wall between dining room and kitchen. Then I showed him my design, and my new laptop and software, and he was impressed. He might have me design 4 kitchens for him. Of course, I told him we would work out the cost, since this isn't for free.

Gotta go, "Blue Collar T.V." is on.

The new garage looks wonderful, and I did not realize what a large garage door we have!

Have a wonderful independence day, whatever you are set free from, enjoy!!

It is really sad that Luther Van Dross died today July 1, 2005. http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/music/article.adp?id=20050701183909990016&ncid=NWS00010000000001

It is sad, because he is my age. Hubby has diabetes and high blood pressure which is what Luther Van Dross had. Hubby is taking care of himself with doctor supervision and my nagging. Oh the nagging doesn't work, but the meds for him do.