Bruised feelings

Oh lord it's hard to be humble. I went to work last night after being on the floor for the last 3 nights making pretty decent tips. No complaints. Apparantely there was some confusion, so they made me train one more night to learn the menu. I was heated. Noone in this town orders off the flippin menu. This is $7.95 all you can eat. Last night was fried catfish. I was a fucking busgirl. I found out what the real deal was. There are two head waitresses, the one who happens to feel very threatened by my age and experience. At the end of the night I sat her down and very politely explained to her that I do not yearn for her job, (been there and done that), just want to come to work and make a few bucks and go home. She apologized and said I would be back on the floor tonight. If not, all my politeness is going out the window. I am really trying to mind my mouth. In all my life I would never have fathomed being discriminated against because I am from the north. These idiots still don't understand that MD is below the Mason Dixon Line. I don't even try to explain. The point is moot. I am arriving half an hour early to work tonight and the real me is getting ready to come out.

I hear the train a comin' it's rollin' round the bend

How are the beautiful people of the USA today? All the strife and poverty and unemployment in this country but guess what? I know in my heart there is no other place I'd rather be. No rockets launching on this soil. No border patrols. I have the freedom to type what I feel without fear. I may stroll where I please. I have liberties that I wouldn't trade for anything. The town I live in is flat broke but the Amtrak workers still have jobs and that train rolls through my town on a daily basis. The morning global news breaks my heart. I had an epiphany at the airport at BWI last week. I had a layover in Baltimore as the flight to N.Carolina was cancelled. All of our soldiers started rolling in at the airport. Most of them were coming home for about a year. I am a chatty kind of girl. They looked tired and beat. They proudly talk about defending their country. Regardless of how hard it is to be posted in the desert. These men were coming home from Afganastan.(sp) Some were from Iraq. They were happy to conversate while they waited to re-unite with loved ones. I now realize just how much I have to be thankful for. They also stated they will deploy out again as soon as they are called. When I lay my head upon my pillow, I have peace of mind knowing they are out there defending everything I hold sacred. Have a blessed day.

The Prodgial Son is on his way to me!

Jesse is on his way to Georgia as I am typing this. The novelty of being a man on his own has finally worn off, Thank God. Whatever he was going through, something happened to make him change his mind. He is enroute now and shall arrive here around noon tomorrow. This mother will go to sleep with peace of mind. He has just learned a valuable life lesson. The one we all find out eventually. When all the roads come to an end, the only people you can rely on is your family. My son though he had all these "friends". He was mistaken. He had buddies. my brother in law and his wife left to bring him down here. By noon on Saturday Baggy Pants and I shall be face to face again, in one house. That umbilical cord is one powerful thing.

Leavin' on a jet plane

I have not flown since I was 15. Many moons have passed and not I have to fly to Baltimore in the am to deal with Baggy Pants. I do believe I am having pre-flight anxiety. When I was a child we used to fly from Baltimore to California every summer. The memories are pleasant. Now the list of rules and regualtions are rather intimidating. I have always considered myself a rather fearless, ballsy chick. It must be age. The balls have shrunk quite a bit, bordering on shriveling. I was the first one to flip the bird. Now I just shine people on, finding the aggravation not worth the strength. I value peace of mind. The commercial of the person stuck on the flight between the two rather loud rowdy crazy guys keeps flashing in my brain. What happens to that spunk as every decade comes? 10 years ago I would have dug flying with crazy people and joined in. Now I want to just read my book and be left alone. Now I am dealing with an 18 year old who has my old gusto and is challenging me to let him be a man and stay in Baltimore. He is not equipped. J thinks he can make it. Baltimore is brutal. He said I am living in hillbilly land. He is right, but I can afford to pay the bills. Baggy Pants is now broke and needs mommy and some money. I am torn. Do I let him fall so he can learn to stand stronger, or do I bail him? Whoever said parenthood is rewarding left a few parts out...BTW, that is a direct quote from my father. It is in our DNA...Wish this 42 year old woman a safe flight please. Anyone wishing to impart parenting wisdom is welcome...I have run out.

Collateral Damage

I watch the news. I prefer Reuters or BBC as I think it is more objective. My friends, it is now ON in the Middle East. Israel is not playing games. To use blunt verbiage, you can only fuck with people for so long. I am not preaching end times rap or doomsday rants this morning, but this is real and it is happening. Must be brief as I have to get my southern waitress uniform on and get ready to say "How Ya'll Doing Folks, Come On In". They hired me for two days a week. I worked one shift yesterday, I now have 6 nights a week. So to toot my own horn, this yankee waitress rocks. Have a blessed Sunday folks. I will hit everyone's blogs tonight when I get some free time.

The peace of the am

This is my time of day. It is silent except for the music in my headphones. No one is asking for anything or yelling my name. No telephones ringing. I actually write and pray sometimes. Whatever works, correct? I am enjoying this morning especially as I start my first day of work tomorrow at my new restaurant, doing what I love. Serving the masses. I have always thought that serving someone a plate of food is rather intimate. I like waiting on the single elderly person who comes in to eat, not really for the food, but for some conversation and to bask in the warmth of other humans. That brings me joy. I am a little nervous, the menu and slang down here is VERY different. I am a trooper. The owner of the restaurant is a local legend. She made her start selling fried chicken, which brought in many people of color faithfully. This is still the south and she pissed off a lot of people. She didn't care. With the chicken money she saved and bought the bigger restaurant. Her business is thriving. I am still having trouble with how racial certain people are here. It is blatant in some parts of town. Race is not my issue. My issue is that we should all buy American made everything. It is about being an American and loving your country. Your local grocer should be able to communicate with you in your native tongue, not his. That I do have strong feelings about. I don't think it is acceptable to use non-American labor for pennies. How can a man compete in any labor market, if one man will work for $6 an hour and the other is used to making $24 an hour. At least the American man puts his money back into the American economy, not sending it back to his motherland. So that is my dribble for today. The house is awakening and the day must begin..

Hope you don't live in South Carolina and are on unemployment

This is unbelievable. The people of South Carolina who collect unemployment can't get paid, as apparently there is no money to pay them with. How can this happen? They are telling these people to wait patiently and it will be resolved. Sorry, but what the fuck kind of answer is this? What happens when you get your Social Security check and find out that you can't cash it as there is no money for that either? Time to tuck that cash under the damn mattress again, and not spend. South Carolina should be mortified and embarrassed. Let the audits begin.