ok. . .so. . .I had planned out a menu, based on what I have defrosted. I had made a big tray of stuffed cabbage and still had about 1 1/2 lbs of meat after. So I told my kids that i was sick and tired of cooking and them not eating and or food going to waste.

So, I gave them the options of what I can make with what we have and they suggested what they would like. So, early this morning, I went to the market to buy the "missing items" (I had buy stuff for my sons lunch box anyway).

Now, let me explain. . .I don't just go to one supermarket. I'm a very careful shopper, and check out the sales, then buy appropriately at the stores where sales are best. I like Ralphs, because Kroger Brand items are always on sale, and there are always in store specials, etc. The Managers specials on meat are always really good also. Add to that, using the rewards card, every couple of months, I get coupons for free items and a large discount coupon, or coupon for bonus points. (Ex. My thanksgiving ham was priced at .75 lb for card holders, and I used my Rewards money back coupon, so I got my ham for free, with a $2.00 credit. My Thanxgiving dinner cost me about $3.00 total)

Now, there are 4 markets that cater to the hispanic market and the produce is usually really good, and less expensive there and they have butcher counters, but they are usually very crowded during the holidays and in the afternoons, but for certain cuts, I have to go there.

Here is my dilema - One, I don't like going to because of the class of people there, and the way this chain started and their practices. They are a larger chain, and is always cleaner, (compared to the other 3) well stocked and organized, and the employees are corteous and friendly, and are all bilingual. the problem - The people who go there are pushy, arrogant have no manners, and entitled. (nouveau riche)

Another one I went into last week wasn't as clean and I could smell the meat (blood) from the door, which really grossed me out, but they have been in business forever and long time residents have good things to say about it.

Anyway. . .I went to Ralphs and bought what I wanted, and thought, well, it's early, so Vallarta shouldn't be so crowded. I got all my vegies, fine. . .there were no sales that I really wanted at the butcher counter, fine. . .I went to the other counter to get a certain precooked cut of meat that i needed. The line was about 5 people, and it went quickly. . .fine. . .so i started thinking, Ok. . .I survived this, it's a new year, maybe I'll start coming here again. . .

So, I pay, and I leave, go to my car, lots of empty spaces, but still reasonably full, put my groceries in the trunk. While I'm doing this, there is a woman getting into a brand new toyota talking very loudly on a cell phone. She is saying "Oh, yes, I see you. . .sure. . .follow me ok??? It wasn't hard to identify who she was talking to because that person pulled up pretty close to where she was parked and waved. There was another car behind her, waiting. Toyota woman, gets in her car, and instead of pulling out in reverse, decides to pull out foward through the emply space in front of me. She pulls through so quickly that she misses the person pulling in by inches. That person had no choice but to back out, because, guess what? The person following toyota woman wanted to do the same thing, and pull through the parking space, instead of driving an extra 15 feet. . .Then toyota lady jumps out of her car to examin her car to make sure there are no damages (No one hit anyone. . .how could there be damages?) Then started screaming loudly about how she is calling the police because the other person (pulling in correctly) tried to kill her. The person behind her pulled out in reverse and took off, and left toyota lady screaming at right of way guy, who was blocking me, so I couldn't get out and go home.

Toyota lady was starting to give me dirty looks, but finally, right of way guy pulled into a different space, and I was able to make my escape while Toyta lady continued to scream at him and follow him.

So. . .really. . .I should have known better, huh?

2008 has only about 33 hours to go before it is done and gone, and things have to get better!!!.

Yesterday and today, the weather has been beautiful. Blue skys, and in the high 60's, low 70's. Last week was low 50's and rainy. Everyone in the house is sick, and I am also dealing with a Post PMS ing 20 year old.!!

Oh. . .and did I mention. . .My ex husband decided that my son really needed to have his dog at my house. The dog, a Belginian Shepard, named Chief, loves defending "his" yard from cats, but is afraid of pigeons. He will also try to scare away the possums and the skunks. . .from a distance. In the meanwhile, he has chewed through garden hoses, through boxes of stored items and has generally made a major mess on my patio. Since it is so nice outside today, I have assigned my son and SIL to make sure it is spotless!!!!

Now. . .we are trying to get rid of things and get the house organized (well, the dog has taken care of getting rid of things) so I had about 6 bags of old clothing to go to the goodwill. I know where there is a "Bin" near my sons school. A friend told me where there was another closer. So, we load up the car and drop them off. We come back, and lo and behold, there is one not more than 50 ft away from my house!!!! I guess they put it there during the wild fires (The high school was an evacuation center for 2 weeks) but I guess I never noticed it before.

Now, add to that the fact that my son, being a normal 10 year old, hears "stuff your dirty undies and socks under your bed" when I actually said "put your clothes in the hamper" So I spend about 20 min in his room sweeping everything into on huge pile in the middle of his room, and the next 2 hours watching him sort it out and put it all in the right place. Yep. . .you guessed it. . .we ended up with 2 - 4 more bags of clothing that doesn't fit him any longer, as well as 2 baskets of clothing to be washed, as well as 3 bags (small) of trash.

Now. . .I did and am doing all this so we can start the New Year fresh, So. . .my New Years Eve will be spent doing laundry and cleaning my house.

So. . .Here's my New Years wish. . .

That 2009 is a better year for everyone. . .

My family and my life are very high drama. . .so should I expect to have some calmness once in a while???? Can I hope for it????

I was renovating a guest unit I had, and interviewing tenants, while trying to get my house organized and everything into storage. . . Well, I get tenants right away, which is good, and they were to move in on the 15th. . .Great. . .things are starting to happen, I thought, and had the place clean and ready. Well, on the 14th we had very bad Santa Ana's and new wild fires started. . .This time, the fires came within 2 blocks of us on one side and 4 blocks on the other. The air quality was really bad, we were notice about evacuations if necessary. Well, that didn't happen, but in the meanwhile, the renters had to move in, and there was soot and ash EVERYWHERE!!! I'm still trying to get it off of my patio and had to drain my pool because of so much soot and ash!!!

Anyway. . .in the midst of this, the freeways, of course were all closed, so I couldn't show properties or get to one of my appointments. On top of that, I had an episode (I suffer from gout) but as I never had had it in my ankle before, thought it was a sprain. On top of that, my mother stops by and lets me know that no one wanted to host Thanksgiving this year, so everyone is doing their own thing, and encouraged me to go out of town this day.. . .This was a surprise as my brother has just called me to let me know where and when it would be!

Then there was a annual office Thanksgiving potluck, scheduled for 5 pm. . .to which the main entree's did not even arrive until almost 6:30 pm. Strange. . .This weekend was very quiet and uneventful . . .Is this the quiet before the storm?????

I really have to live by a schedule if I want my life to have any order, make any sense, or get anything done. . .I have absolutely no sense of time, so if I don't plan and follow a routin, i will be confused and out of sorts. . .

Anyway. . .Sunday I had planned to go to the butcher, and the grocery, in that order, so I could come home, and finish the wash, etc., and have everything ready for the work week. I had almost finished my laundry, just needed to take my sons uniforms out of the dryer and hang up. .. I even had the hangers waiting on the sofa. . .

I knew exactly what I needed to buy. I even had my list. . .but I got to the butcher shop, one that I have been going to for 12 years, and found that during this week, they went out of business!!!! I was so surprised!!! I still needed the meat, so I went to the "Vallarta" which is a hugh supermarket, with a very busy butcher counter. It is fine, when the store is not so crowded, but on on a sunday afternoon???? Also, I don't like their prices (One stop shopping, so it is more expensive)

Not only did it take more time, because of the crowds and it was more expensive, I totally forgot my list!!! Also, the store is departmentalized. . .The bakery/tortilleria, the "kitchen", the butcher, the produce, each section you pay separately. . .Also there is a certain class of people that frequent the store, that really bother me!!!

Another thing I like is that there is a lot to be said for the smaller shops. . .Less stock, less waste - it makes the prices for reasonable, plus, less crowded, better service and familiarity. . .They actually know you, at least by sight. . .

Anyway, by the time I got out of there, I had a head ache, and I got home to realize that I had left something stewing on the stove, and I got home in the nick of time to save it. . .I also ralized that I could not cook everything that I wanted to for the week because I was missing ingrediates!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR. . .Now I have to make the rounds of all the butcher shops and see who I like better. . .

So, of course, it threw off my whole schedule also. I was at loose ends, and cleaned my kitchen before realizing/remembering that I still had laundry to finish. . .When I went out on my patio, to where they have recently moved my laundry area, I realized that I had to call the plumber and the electricition, AND the carpenter to finish my storage, as well, as I was sopposed to have finish sorting, placing, donating and tossing, before the weather gets bad. . .By that time I was overwelmed and just gave up for the day.

And to think that all this just because a butcher shop went out of business!!!!

Why can't life be easy???? Just 1 week. . .1 week I'm asking for everything to get done, and everything to go smoothly and no surprises after that one week. . .Am I really asking for all that much. . .

Ok. . .this has been my month so far. . .My son went back to school in August. I had his room clean and organized, I had his uniforms and books and school things organized. I had my home office organized and cleaned. I thought I had it made!!!

Well . . .We decided to remodel the guest unit attached to my house and rent it out. . .I thought I had at least 2 weeks to organize and move everything to storage and break down my home office. NO!!! of course not. . .My Ex took it upon him self (don't get me wrong, I'm greatful that he is taking care of the expense and the crew and everything) to start the project. His crew moved everything to the back patio for me (Thank GOD for good weather!!!). But of course, they have no idea what is what, Even all my clothing ended up on the patio (My bedroom closet was just ripped out and isn't done yet - hence my clothing in my home office!!!) They built me a new laundry room, but instead of moving the washer and dryer first, they put all of my possessions right there, then moved everything again (after I had organized) to place the washer and dryer!!! So, this week end, I organized for 4 hours straight, and at least, found most of the clothing (now all dusty) and was going to start wash and guess what??? My washer is not working!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. . .So Not only do I have everything outside, in a disarray, waiting for the storage shed to be finished, because there is not room to spread out and organize, I have 5 days of laundry to do. . .Now. . .going to the laundry this one time would sound like a good idea, since we are kinda slow but, no. . .now all of a sudden, I'm picking up other little work here and there. . .(I'm thrilled, with that) but I really need to get my laundry done, and my house reorgainzed!!!

I'm looking for the lesson in all of this. . .I know that GOD has a reason, but gee. . .send me a clue. . .please????

This is my first blog entry. . .and boy do I need to vent about this subject. . .

I worked for a company for about 10 years, and everything was always last minute with them, so we were always asked to do all nighters, at the last minute, to get the owner out of trouble. . .but I know what I am doing, so I always had things ready and would print out my part, walk in, hand it in, and say. . .do you really need me here? This would really piss off his pets, I mean family staff members, who would, of course, not be ready and have to run around all night, getting their information together, because they were just too lazy to do daily, weekly, or even monthly reports.

Anyway. . .I'm still on good terms with the owner, however I have almost never had more than a professional relationship with 3 of his staff members. 6 or 7 other staff members (non family) had come and gone, but could not put up this the other staff members either, and left. . .I had formed relationships with each of them and we are all still pretty good friends, as well as still keeping in touch with all the associates.

Well, about a 2 weeks ago, I got an Email from an associate inviting me to participate (read donate) in a fund raiser. We will call him Team A. The same week I received an invitation to participate in friends fund raiser for the same charity, however, for a different Team. We will call them Team B. The Team captain for team #b, was doing a movie night, where they were actually screening a movie under the stars, your "ticket" was $5 donation per person, bring your pic nic supper and drinks, a blanket or lawn chairs, etc. Candy and popcorn to be sold, and proceeds to be donated towards the "goal". Now, if I am going to be entertained, and it is for a worthy cause, taking my family, and spending X amount of $ is no big deal. . .If we went to the movies, it would have been more than the amount spent. . .so. . .we participated. I emailed Team A and told him that I had already donated, to team B, and he thanked me, because it was all going to the same cause, after all, and maybe next fundraiser.

Well, I went to lunch with an associate this week, and she mentioned that the owner, who we will call Team C, was really pressuring everyone to donate to his Team. And his staff was hounding people on a daily basis. I was surprised, because Team A, is an associate in his own office, and Team B is his own sister in law, for whom is sister works. . .

That afternoon I got his Email, that the event was only 1 week away, and that their goal was $10,000.00 and they were already more then 75% there. Please donate. That afternoon I was talking to my BFF, she got the exact email. And another who had also been staff and left because of his other "staff" (read family, who pretend to actually do something, but really don't) same thing. We all just laughed about it, until one got a personal call from the Owner, saying that I had donated $500.00. and I got a call saying that BFF had donated $300.00, and BFF got a call saying that the other had donated X amount of $.

Also. . .when you donate to this particular charity, you make the donation directly to them. . .example. . .when we "bought" our movie night ticket, they entered the "donation" amount and name directly into the website. At the end of the movie, they overheaded the website with the finally tally for everyone to see and each persons name scrolled, with the amount of "ticket money" they had donated.

So. . .I logged onto the website to check out his "team". He was only 7% to his goal!!!! And why lie about it. . .

Do these people just not think???? They think we don't talk to each other??? Oh. . .and the best part. . .the "Staff" were in a local bar last night telling everyone that they had purposely not contacted us in time, so we "will look bad" for not donating.

Huh??? this is a charity that I would donate to anyway, and they did see me at the fundraiser for team B. Also. . .why would we look bad? To who???

We live in a really small community and everyone knows everyones business. It's just really sad that the owner will never ever believe that his "staff" would do anything like that and even if he does. . .will not admit it. . .and will do even less about it. . .

--
Edited by Tsariname at 07/12/2008 9:18 PM PDT