I get really embarrassed when people throw hissy fits in public places. I'm embarrassed for total strangers when it happens and when I'm with someone who's doing it, I want to appease at any cost because I'm so ashamed. I want to preface this post with this confession.
ITSam, Mac and I went to get Mac a new phone earlier this week and due to some weird Sprint rules, we can't add Mac to Sam's phone plan for another 30 days. Ummmm, we didn't know this before we went to Best Buy and tried to get said phone. And Mac had already had his "new phone experience" pushed back an extra 30 days because of the car repairs I had to pay for.
This did not bode well with Mac. He was really pi**ed off. I explained a few options to him:
a) I get him a "throw away" phone to use for 30 days which will have text and call on it
b) I get a phone plan for him that day but he gets a job and makes the payments
Obviously "A" was practical. (And sounds cool. "Throw away" phone sounds so conspiracy/ criminal/ gangster/ Jason Bourne, doesn't it?)
The problem with "B" was that I promised Mac that I would get him a phone and I would pay for it as long as he was working on his Bachelor's degree and not failing any classes or quit/ dropped out of college/ kicked out of college. My other stipulation was that he got what I could afford and if he wanted something bigger and better as time went on, then the phone would be his responsibility. I didn't want him to have to take on this financial responsibility. Furthermore, if we went this route, he's still a minor so the phone would be in my name and if he bailed on the payments, I get stuck!
He then proceeded to have a hissy fit over the whole thing.
He's 5'11" and weighs about 270 pounds. When he threw a fit as a little kid I could scoop him up and take him out of the store. Unless I got a hand cart and a tazer, that wasn't going to happen. And short of him throwing himself on the floor and kicking and screaming, he had a big old fit.
So what did I do? I had no balls and was embarrassed to death and wanted him to shut up so I said, "Fine. What do you want? My phone?" and he said yes.
So for the next 30 days he has my phone and I have a throw away.
Yes, I realize all the things I did wrong here. I realize he was a complete and total ass.
I am ready for him to leave for college. Right now.
Please.
Maggie
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
How I made my picks
So yesterday started the official "March Madness"- the NCAA tournament kicked off. For those of you who are not in the know, NCAA basketball tournament is when all the college basketball teams begin their play-offs. This is, apparently, a very big deal.
I was given a page with all the teams on it, and brackets, so I could pick winners. It was free to do here at work, and there are prizes. Our athletic director is taking care of it for us.
Now, a basketball is the orange one, with the black stripes, right?
Now, I guess there's probably a logical way to make picks for the winners, right?
Here's how I picked some of the one's I did:
There were some struggles for me. I avoided Michigan because when I was in high school Chris Weber played for them and threw a crappy shot at the buzzer and I've never forgotten it. It was Richmond -vs- Vanderbelt and I wasn't sure. I had a pair of Gloria Vanderbelt jeans when I was a kid. I also love Gone With the Wind, hence the Richmond tie in. I went with Richmond because Grandma Shrew gave me the jeans.
I had to pick a total points scored in the championship game in case there was a tie breaker. I picked the number 139. The AD said that was a good choice.
It will be interesting to see how well I do!
Mad about March,
Maggie
I was given a page with all the teams on it, and brackets, so I could pick winners. It was free to do here at work, and there are prizes. Our athletic director is taking care of it for us.
Now, a basketball is the orange one, with the black stripes, right?
Now, I guess there's probably a logical way to make picks for the winners, right?
Here's how I picked some of the one's I did:
- Ohio and Butler because I gotta stay loyal to my Midwest roots.
- Villanova and Gonzaga because they're fun to say
- Kentucky because I have family there and my bio- grandfather was a huge Kentucky fan. The only gift I ever remember him giving me was a Kentucky shirt. And a lady at work that I really like is rooting for them, too.
- Xavier because it starts with X and there are so few words in the world that start with X
- N. Carolina because the Tar Heels is such a cool nickname!
- Georgia because Bragger lives there
- Duke because I heard that last year they won a bunch of games
- Tennessee because Elvis is buried there
- San Diego because I've always wanted to visit that city
- UNLV, BYU and UCLA because they have cool acronyms
- Morehead because I have family there
- Georgetown because I wanted to attend there
- Purdue because I don't like IU
- Texas A & M because they go by letters with an ampersand
- Notre Dame because they have, in football, a touchdown Jesus. And because my Uncle loves Notre Dame.
- Pittsburgh because I went there once, for 22 hours
- Florida because I want to be there NOW
There were some struggles for me. I avoided Michigan because when I was in high school Chris Weber played for them and threw a crappy shot at the buzzer and I've never forgotten it. It was Richmond -vs- Vanderbelt and I wasn't sure. I had a pair of Gloria Vanderbelt jeans when I was a kid. I also love Gone With the Wind, hence the Richmond tie in. I went with Richmond because Grandma Shrew gave me the jeans.
I had to pick a total points scored in the championship game in case there was a tie breaker. I picked the number 139. The AD said that was a good choice.
It will be interesting to see how well I do!
Mad about March,
Maggie
Thursday, March 17, 2011
So I did learn a new craft after all!
In my list of 40 things to do before I turn 40 I said I wanted to learn a new craft. I tried a knitting class, and albeit I went one time, I was REALLY not successful! However, yesterday I organized a program in our school library on card making.
When I planned this event it never dawned on me that I could use it as a 40 Before 40 item!
I had a woman from the community who is a card maker and does some beautiful work be my guest speaker. She volunteered to come in during our 90 minute lunch period and give a brief presentation about card making and then she would let the audience members each make a card.
She and I met in advance and planned that we would have 8-10 kids with about 3-4 chaperons. I got a list of supplies, which I bought and/or got donated. I provided lunch. The kids had to sign up ahead of time and write a paragraph about why they should be picked to participate.
In the end we had a group of 6 people in attendance. The presenter gave her little Power Point about card making, the history and her own interest. Then we all got to make cards.
One thing she did that was really cool was that she made several templates. She cut all the paper in advance (due to time constraints) and bagged it up into mini kits. Each person was able to choose a kit and then she went through the creative process. It was pretty awesome! Though the kids didn't have a chance to actually use the Cricut she brought, she did a small demonstration with it. (And we have an arts & crafts & hobby room here on campus and if the kids have good behavior, they're allowed to go there after school and weekends. There's a Cricut in that space so the kids got see what it could do during the program AND will have access to one, too!)
It was a fun experience. While I will never become a 'card maker' (that's Daddy-O's specialty) it was fun to do. I can see why it's awesomely fun to do as a group, too. I will occasionally make a card or two, in the future, I'm sure.
Here are some samples of the work the kids made:
We even made our own envelops!
This 'Aloha' one is the card I made!
Maggie
When I planned this event it never dawned on me that I could use it as a 40 Before 40 item!
I had a woman from the community who is a card maker and does some beautiful work be my guest speaker. She volunteered to come in during our 90 minute lunch period and give a brief presentation about card making and then she would let the audience members each make a card.
She and I met in advance and planned that we would have 8-10 kids with about 3-4 chaperons. I got a list of supplies, which I bought and/or got donated. I provided lunch. The kids had to sign up ahead of time and write a paragraph about why they should be picked to participate.
In the end we had a group of 6 people in attendance. The presenter gave her little Power Point about card making, the history and her own interest. Then we all got to make cards.
One thing she did that was really cool was that she made several templates. She cut all the paper in advance (due to time constraints) and bagged it up into mini kits. Each person was able to choose a kit and then she went through the creative process. It was pretty awesome! Though the kids didn't have a chance to actually use the Cricut she brought, she did a small demonstration with it. (And we have an arts & crafts & hobby room here on campus and if the kids have good behavior, they're allowed to go there after school and weekends. There's a Cricut in that space so the kids got see what it could do during the program AND will have access to one, too!)
It was a fun experience. While I will never become a 'card maker' (that's Daddy-O's specialty) it was fun to do. I can see why it's awesomely fun to do as a group, too. I will occasionally make a card or two, in the future, I'm sure.
Here are some samples of the work the kids made:
We even made our own envelops!
This 'Aloha' one is the card I made!
Maggie
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sweetness at the bottom of the cupcake
I've had a really, really bad week, month, year, whatever. Really bad, especially lately when it all feels like a ton of stuff is piled on me or wrong or just disastrous, out of control.
But once in a while a small act of kindness can restore a girl's faith in humanity.
Friday I went to Northern Civilization and there were 2 things I wanted: a cup of Starbucks with the free mini pastry, and then to stop at my favorite bakery and get a cupcake for later in the weekend. Starbucks went off without a hitch.
ITSam and I arrange at the bakery and there were no cupcakes. I adore, desire, crave, yearn for, dream of, have wild fantasies about, this bakery's vanilla and strawberry creme with white chocolate cupcakes and they were out. Nary a cupcake to be had. I sort of broke down.
I'm suddenly telling the guy behind the counter, a kid basically, named Jeff, about my terrible fate in life right now, that I drove an 1 for one of these cupcakes, they've never been out before and I just sort of faded to a stop, hunched my shoulders, muttered thanks and started to walk away.
Jeff said, "wait! Ya got about 15 minutes." I look at him from behind a curtain of hair and one tear slides down my face and drops off the tip of my nose, and I nod.
Jeff then proceeds to venture into the huge backroom freezer. He comes back and said they have the actual cake part of the cupcake, frozen and if I didn't want to eat it right away he would make me a vanilla strawberry creme with white chocolate chips cupcake. He said he would make me as many as I wanted.
This was not just a matter of grabbing some frosting and slapping it on. He had to get strawberries and make the strawberry part of the filling from scratch. Then he got out a tub of vanilla buttercreme frosting and assembled the cupcakes. He had to fill pastry bags with frosting. He didn't have any white chocolate chips on hand so he went into the store part of the bakery and got the missing ingredient.
I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. I couldn't believe that this guy went to all this trouble for me all because I was having a bad life at the moment. I got four cupcakes since he was going to all the work. Actually, ITSam ordered four for me because I couldn't speak. I was just shocked at his kindness, his effort.
I said thank you about a zillion times. I told his manager on the way out what he did. I wrote a comment to their web site.
It was more than a cupcake, you know. He just restored my faith in humanity, at least for a little while.
I'm thankful for Jeff, and people like him.
Maggie
But once in a while a small act of kindness can restore a girl's faith in humanity.
Friday I went to Northern Civilization and there were 2 things I wanted: a cup of Starbucks with the free mini pastry, and then to stop at my favorite bakery and get a cupcake for later in the weekend. Starbucks went off without a hitch.
ITSam and I arrange at the bakery and there were no cupcakes. I adore, desire, crave, yearn for, dream of, have wild fantasies about, this bakery's vanilla and strawberry creme with white chocolate cupcakes and they were out. Nary a cupcake to be had. I sort of broke down.
I'm suddenly telling the guy behind the counter, a kid basically, named Jeff, about my terrible fate in life right now, that I drove an 1 for one of these cupcakes, they've never been out before and I just sort of faded to a stop, hunched my shoulders, muttered thanks and started to walk away.
Jeff said, "wait! Ya got about 15 minutes." I look at him from behind a curtain of hair and one tear slides down my face and drops off the tip of my nose, and I nod.
Jeff then proceeds to venture into the huge backroom freezer. He comes back and said they have the actual cake part of the cupcake, frozen and if I didn't want to eat it right away he would make me a vanilla strawberry creme with white chocolate chips cupcake. He said he would make me as many as I wanted.
This was not just a matter of grabbing some frosting and slapping it on. He had to get strawberries and make the strawberry part of the filling from scratch. Then he got out a tub of vanilla buttercreme frosting and assembled the cupcakes. He had to fill pastry bags with frosting. He didn't have any white chocolate chips on hand so he went into the store part of the bakery and got the missing ingredient.I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. I couldn't believe that this guy went to all this trouble for me all because I was having a bad life at the moment. I got four cupcakes since he was going to all the work. Actually, ITSam ordered four for me because I couldn't speak. I was just shocked at his kindness, his effort.
I said thank you about a zillion times. I told his manager on the way out what he did. I wrote a comment to their web site.
It was more than a cupcake, you know. He just restored my faith in humanity, at least for a little while.
I'm thankful for Jeff, and people like him.
Maggie
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Pat my own back
I don't usually do this but I'm going to pat myself on my back.
I am damn good at my job. I work well with our kids who are explosive and hurt and angry and scared and mad, all at the same time. I'm good with these kids DAMN IT!!!!!!
Yesterday I broke up a girl fight, breaking up two girls, one of whom is known to be MEAN. I talked her down and got her out of the room and then stayed and talked with her while the administrators did what they had to do. By the time we got any help in the classroom where the fight broke out, I had it it sorted out. And the classroom teacher I helped- it was his room where the girls were fighting- just stood by. All the administrators had to do when they got there was administer the punishment.
I talked to the girl and found out all that was wrong and she cried and spilled. Then she talked- calmly- to the assistant principal, who she hates, and got it together. Funny, it occurred to me that my school has all men as administrators.
Look, I'm good in the library and I'm good at my job there. I like and respect these kids. I like working in education. I will go above and beyond the call for my school. I don't know what it is but these kids click with me and I like them as well. I'm a good to person in my building and I have a good attitude. I don't take crap from the kids but I get where they're coming from. I respect them and i have high expectations.
But I'm tired. I can't get full time hours. I can't get descent money. I am so very happy that they all like me and think I do a good job. I would be a damn good case manager and have been told that by people in power positions but I don't have the right degree. I don't have the right degree to teach or be an administrator. I have the right degree to do nothing.
I'm frustrated and mad. I am GOOD at this. I can't afford to go back to school. I can't afford rent or groceries let alone more school. I can't afford to get a car payment let alone another school loan. I'm tired, I'm angry, and I've had it.
I've found what I need to do but I can't make a living.
I'm sick of looking for a job. I'm tired of watching people hate being in education, hating our kids, bitching all the time about their jobs when they have no clue, of people not doing their damn jobs and I KNOW I could do this far better than at least half of the folks there. This sucks sucks sucks and it's not fair. I'm sick of looking for a new job, of being the new kid on the block all the time, sick of no money, or re-learning, of being at the bottom.
I want to stay home and do nothing and hide from the world. I want to work in a bakery and be the pastry decorator, hiding in the back, dealing with no people and just frosting cake after cake and not being in charge of shit or talking to people. I want to arrange flowers. Show me how and stick me in the back room at the florist and I'll just do arrangement after arrangement. Because I just can't cope with people telling me how great I am, how much they love me, how much I'm appreciated, but "gee I'm sorry we don't have a full time spot for you because you don't have the right ___________(fill in the damn blank)." I don't want to work with people and like it. I want to be regulated to the back of the bus, doing behind the scenes work. Give me a job where I don't have a chance to shine or be good or stand out and let me just do what I'm told, assembly line, rote work.
Screw careers.
Maggie
I am damn good at my job. I work well with our kids who are explosive and hurt and angry and scared and mad, all at the same time. I'm good with these kids DAMN IT!!!!!!
Yesterday I broke up a girl fight, breaking up two girls, one of whom is known to be MEAN. I talked her down and got her out of the room and then stayed and talked with her while the administrators did what they had to do. By the time we got any help in the classroom where the fight broke out, I had it it sorted out. And the classroom teacher I helped- it was his room where the girls were fighting- just stood by. All the administrators had to do when they got there was administer the punishment.
I talked to the girl and found out all that was wrong and she cried and spilled. Then she talked- calmly- to the assistant principal, who she hates, and got it together. Funny, it occurred to me that my school has all men as administrators.
Look, I'm good in the library and I'm good at my job there. I like and respect these kids. I like working in education. I will go above and beyond the call for my school. I don't know what it is but these kids click with me and I like them as well. I'm a good to person in my building and I have a good attitude. I don't take crap from the kids but I get where they're coming from. I respect them and i have high expectations.
But I'm tired. I can't get full time hours. I can't get descent money. I am so very happy that they all like me and think I do a good job. I would be a damn good case manager and have been told that by people in power positions but I don't have the right degree. I don't have the right degree to teach or be an administrator. I have the right degree to do nothing.
I'm frustrated and mad. I am GOOD at this. I can't afford to go back to school. I can't afford rent or groceries let alone more school. I can't afford to get a car payment let alone another school loan. I'm tired, I'm angry, and I've had it.
I've found what I need to do but I can't make a living.
I'm sick of looking for a job. I'm tired of watching people hate being in education, hating our kids, bitching all the time about their jobs when they have no clue, of people not doing their damn jobs and I KNOW I could do this far better than at least half of the folks there. This sucks sucks sucks and it's not fair. I'm sick of looking for a new job, of being the new kid on the block all the time, sick of no money, or re-learning, of being at the bottom.
I want to stay home and do nothing and hide from the world. I want to work in a bakery and be the pastry decorator, hiding in the back, dealing with no people and just frosting cake after cake and not being in charge of shit or talking to people. I want to arrange flowers. Show me how and stick me in the back room at the florist and I'll just do arrangement after arrangement. Because I just can't cope with people telling me how great I am, how much they love me, how much I'm appreciated, but "gee I'm sorry we don't have a full time spot for you because you don't have the right ___________(fill in the damn blank)." I don't want to work with people and like it. I want to be regulated to the back of the bus, doing behind the scenes work. Give me a job where I don't have a chance to shine or be good or stand out and let me just do what I'm told, assembly line, rote work.
Screw careers.
Maggie
Monday, March 14, 2011
I had to explain...
...to the campus pastor why I compared King Herod to Al Capone.
See I was explaining why King Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus and why the Wise Men were 12 days late getting to the manger, and it had nothing to do with the North Star being a crappy GPS.
Okay, so ya see, I told students King Herod was a bad gangster guy like Al Capone, and that he wanted to kill the baby. He sent his goons after the baby but the goons weren't very smart so they followed the Wise Men. The Wise Men were called "Wise Men" for a reason and they knew the goons were behind them so they went in circles for 12 days to shake 'em off their tail so they could see the baby Jesus and not be the ones who led the hit squad straight to him; that would be a real blemish on their records and I think they could no longer be called Wise.
And this is why we have Epiphany.
Made total sense to me, and the students, at the time...
Maybe I should I write a new version of the Bible? Or maybe not...
Maggie
See I was explaining why King Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus and why the Wise Men were 12 days late getting to the manger, and it had nothing to do with the North Star being a crappy GPS.
Okay, so ya see, I told students King Herod was a bad gangster guy like Al Capone, and that he wanted to kill the baby. He sent his goons after the baby but the goons weren't very smart so they followed the Wise Men. The Wise Men were called "Wise Men" for a reason and they knew the goons were behind them so they went in circles for 12 days to shake 'em off their tail so they could see the baby Jesus and not be the ones who led the hit squad straight to him; that would be a real blemish on their records and I think they could no longer be called Wise.
And this is why we have Epiphany.
Made total sense to me, and the students, at the time...
Maybe I should I write a new version of the Bible? Or maybe not...
Maggie
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Burnt Toast Meme, Part II
I didn't do part one of the meme but here's part two... just in case you wanted to know something else about me that you didn't already know! And thanks to Sunday Stealing and honor among thieves and all that rot...
17. Who would you like to show up at your door to say they love you?
Johnny Depp
18. Last furry thing you touched?
I pet Photographer's dog, Lola just today
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
booze on Friday night and caffeine every day
20. Do you miss film or does digital work for you?
digital is fine
21. Favorite age you have been so far?
I don't have a favorite
22. Your worst enemy?
fat cells
23. What is your current desktop picture?
Johnny Depp at home and the Divine Ms K at work
24. What was the last thing you said that was funny?
"Remember to remove the eggs from their shells."
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
million bucks, of course
26. Who can't you say “no” to?
just about anyone
27. The last song you bought or downloaded?
I bought a Lady Gaga CD yesterday- The Fame
28. What time of day were you born?
the time when I was ready
29. What’s your favorite number? Why?
Seven because it's a little higher but still in the middle
30. Where did you live in 1987?
Here in Civilization
31. Are you jealous of anyone?
yep
32. Is anyone jealous of you?
nope
33. It's been almost a decade. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Standing on a college campus, getting ready to take a class toward my master's. I was on my cell phone, fighting with my boyfriend of five years who was dumping me. I was also listening to the radio, to Bob & Tom and they started announcing it. I hung up on BF and stood in the parking lot with my door open and radio on. Everybody in the parking lot was doing the same thing- all of us standing out there with the doors open and radios on. Then is was like a mad rush to buildings. When we arrived tvs were on in classrooms and hallways and knots of people were standing around all over the place in utter silence, just watching, having spilled out of offices, clumped together.
17. Who would you like to show up at your door to say they love you?
Johnny Depp
18. Last furry thing you touched?
I pet Photographer's dog, Lola just today
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
booze on Friday night and caffeine every day
20. Do you miss film or does digital work for you?
digital is fine
21. Favorite age you have been so far?
I don't have a favorite
22. Your worst enemy?
fat cells
23. What is your current desktop picture?
Johnny Depp at home and the Divine Ms K at work
24. What was the last thing you said that was funny?
"Remember to remove the eggs from their shells."
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
million bucks, of course
26. Who can't you say “no” to?
just about anyone
27. The last song you bought or downloaded?
I bought a Lady Gaga CD yesterday- The Fame
28. What time of day were you born?
the time when I was ready
29. What’s your favorite number? Why?
Seven because it's a little higher but still in the middle
30. Where did you live in 1987?
Here in Civilization
31. Are you jealous of anyone?
yep
32. Is anyone jealous of you?
nope
33. It's been almost a decade. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Standing on a college campus, getting ready to take a class toward my master's. I was on my cell phone, fighting with my boyfriend of five years who was dumping me. I was also listening to the radio, to Bob & Tom and they started announcing it. I hung up on BF and stood in the parking lot with my door open and radio on. Everybody in the parking lot was doing the same thing- all of us standing out there with the doors open and radios on. Then is was like a mad rush to buildings. When we arrived tvs were on in classrooms and hallways and knots of people were standing around all over the place in utter silence, just watching, having spilled out of offices, clumped together.
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