Tonight they began with five and then there were four. Ryan put Kris and Matt on one side. He put Danny and Allison on the other. He then asked Adam which group he belonged in. That flustered Adam and he didn't want to answer. He finally said Danny and Allison. He walked to them and then Ryan said no, you are in the bottom three. Stand with Matt and Kris.
After lots of others singing, they came back to the point of the show. Who is going home? One of the bottom three is going to be safe. I knew it was going to be Adam. Even Matt and Kris seemed to think that. WRONG! Kris is safe. Matt and Adam, my favorite Adam, are the bottom two. How did Adam end up here? He is the odds on favorite to win the whole thing. I can't stand this. If Matt is safe and Adam goes home I will just spit. Then Ryan says, "Adam, you are safe." Thank goodness. Matt is gone.
But now we have only 4 left. It will be really ugly next week.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
SWINE FLU, WEDDINGS, WICCAN
Some blogs are written without much help from me. I just listen and bring it to you.
Today one of the clerks, C. asked if I had heard about her being cursed. NO. Yesterday she was asked to take a couple who spoke only Spanish. (C. is bilingual.) She took them out of order since she was the only one who could help them. She called them over and then another woman, let's call her, Rude, went ballistic. She went up to C.'s desk and started yelling, "Why did they get to go ahead of me?" Yelling and carrying on. Another clerk took Rude and the whole time she complained, loudly. "Why do those Mexican speaking people get to go ahead of an English speaking American?" And many more ugly things about C. and the non English speaking Mexicans. She kept glaring at C. at the next desk. Rude received the papers she needed and as she left she yelled at C. "I hope you get Swine Flu!" Charming.
Not many weddings, only two. We had the reluctant groom and the I am getting married bride. He so didn't want to be there. I thought he might back out. He didn't. That bride has married trouble.
Then I had the pink wedding. The groom had a pink stripped shirt on. She had on a gorgeous pink lace dress with killer pink heels. They were just darling. And their friends had on touches of pink. So in love. They must have been rich. They had just come back from Cancun and were leaving tonight for a MONTH in Tahiti. Who in their 20's has that much vacation and money?
As they were getting their certified copy of the license , the clerk asked me to try and read a license. It had red splotches of ink on it,not legal. And the line where you identify your position to legally marry ( minister, priest, marriage commissioner, judge, etc.) was hard to read. I kept looking at it and finally it hit me Wiccan. It was signed by a High Priestess. I wish I could tell you the name. But not allowed. But it was a cartoon character and we all laughed. And yes, Wicca is a recognized religion. So it is legal.
Today one of the clerks, C. asked if I had heard about her being cursed. NO. Yesterday she was asked to take a couple who spoke only Spanish. (C. is bilingual.) She took them out of order since she was the only one who could help them. She called them over and then another woman, let's call her, Rude, went ballistic. She went up to C.'s desk and started yelling, "Why did they get to go ahead of me?" Yelling and carrying on. Another clerk took Rude and the whole time she complained, loudly. "Why do those Mexican speaking people get to go ahead of an English speaking American?" And many more ugly things about C. and the non English speaking Mexicans. She kept glaring at C. at the next desk. Rude received the papers she needed and as she left she yelled at C. "I hope you get Swine Flu!" Charming.
Not many weddings, only two. We had the reluctant groom and the I am getting married bride. He so didn't want to be there. I thought he might back out. He didn't. That bride has married trouble.
Then I had the pink wedding. The groom had a pink stripped shirt on. She had on a gorgeous pink lace dress with killer pink heels. They were just darling. And their friends had on touches of pink. So in love. They must have been rich. They had just come back from Cancun and were leaving tonight for a MONTH in Tahiti. Who in their 20's has that much vacation and money?
As they were getting their certified copy of the license , the clerk asked me to try and read a license. It had red splotches of ink on it,not legal. And the line where you identify your position to legally marry ( minister, priest, marriage commissioner, judge, etc.) was hard to read. I kept looking at it and finally it hit me Wiccan. It was signed by a High Priestess. I wish I could tell you the name. But not allowed. But it was a cartoon character and we all laughed. And yes, Wicca is a recognized religion. So it is legal.
Monday, April 27, 2009
WILL THAT WEDDING DRESS STAY UP?
Today there were lots of weddings. I did 7 in 3 hours. Not terribly busy, but busy enough I wasn't bored. Lots of nice happy couples. People from everywhere: Israel, Jordan, Peru, California, Pakistan, Vietnam, and the UK. I was planning my blog about the sweetly in love couples, the fun blended family, the shy Muslim couple. And then the last couple arrived. The planned blog is blown to hell.
This couple had maybe 20 people with them. Everyone was dressed up in black. They arrived right before the cut off time. When I received the license, not all the guests had arrived. We had reprinted the license so I took it out to be re signed. I called their names and they just sat. Now they are the only ones in the lobby, they have to be the couple. I called it three times and finally the groom sauntered over. I said I needed the bride also so they could re sign. She sauntered over even slower. She almost had on a strapless dress, but didn't seem comfortable with it. Tug here, tug there. She had a large bust so the dress should have stayed up. It didn't. Constant tugging it up.
Finally everyone has arrived and we head to the elevators. It became like herding cats. I couldn't get them on the elevators. They just stood and wouldn't get on. At last we are upstairs and in the wedding room. I call the bride and groom over to find out what they want: rings? own vows? stand alone? cameras? which ceremony? They both kept wandering off while I am asking them questions. The guests would not sit down and be quiet. I had to use my "school teaching" voice and get them all settled down. I finally told the couple to get their attendants and to stand up front. (I had stayed late for them and I was getting tired of them.)
The whole time the bride's dress is slipping down, and the bride would tug. Her sister is standing up with her and his friend is with him. Before I begin, I ask, "Are you ready ?" and the sister reaches over the bride's head and tugs the dress up. The bride threw a fit, they are ready to scratch out each other's eyes. The bride pulls her dress down, dangerously down. And they are yelling like 5 year olds. I had to tell them I would not do the wedding if they were going to fight. That everyone could just leave. That got them quieted down so I did the ceremony.
All in all not a pleasant group. They acted like they had rented the country club and we were all hired help. Dear Readers, I am never hired help. I am the Boss, the Queen, the Leader of the Pack. I found out later they had been rude to the clerk, the groom threw his ID at her. And the bride was all but flashing her. I don't like people being rude to my clerks. The clerks are very special ladies who work hard and are polite to icky people.
Yes, Joe, I do collect the weird ones.
This couple had maybe 20 people with them. Everyone was dressed up in black. They arrived right before the cut off time. When I received the license, not all the guests had arrived. We had reprinted the license so I took it out to be re signed. I called their names and they just sat. Now they are the only ones in the lobby, they have to be the couple. I called it three times and finally the groom sauntered over. I said I needed the bride also so they could re sign. She sauntered over even slower. She almost had on a strapless dress, but didn't seem comfortable with it. Tug here, tug there. She had a large bust so the dress should have stayed up. It didn't. Constant tugging it up.
Finally everyone has arrived and we head to the elevators. It became like herding cats. I couldn't get them on the elevators. They just stood and wouldn't get on. At last we are upstairs and in the wedding room. I call the bride and groom over to find out what they want: rings? own vows? stand alone? cameras? which ceremony? They both kept wandering off while I am asking them questions. The guests would not sit down and be quiet. I had to use my "school teaching" voice and get them all settled down. I finally told the couple to get their attendants and to stand up front. (I had stayed late for them and I was getting tired of them.)
The whole time the bride's dress is slipping down, and the bride would tug. Her sister is standing up with her and his friend is with him. Before I begin, I ask, "Are you ready ?" and the sister reaches over the bride's head and tugs the dress up. The bride threw a fit, they are ready to scratch out each other's eyes. The bride pulls her dress down, dangerously down. And they are yelling like 5 year olds. I had to tell them I would not do the wedding if they were going to fight. That everyone could just leave. That got them quieted down so I did the ceremony.
All in all not a pleasant group. They acted like they had rented the country club and we were all hired help. Dear Readers, I am never hired help. I am the Boss, the Queen, the Leader of the Pack. I found out later they had been rude to the clerk, the groom threw his ID at her. And the bride was all but flashing her. I don't like people being rude to my clerks. The clerks are very special ladies who work hard and are polite to icky people.
Yes, Joe, I do collect the weird ones.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
YARD SALES
Yard Sales. Not my favorite way to make money. Way too much work for too little money. You advertise the sale is from 9 -4. At 6:30 you have people (usually dealers) beating on your door. "Let us buy now. We will take everything at half price." I am not real nice that early in the morning. So they don't buy anything. Anyway, we don't hold yard sales anymore. We donate to charity and take the tax deduction. But we like to go to them.
Today, several of our neighbors had yard sales. They had lots of children's books and toys, strollers, playpens, and baby baths. And there were dishes, baskets, spices that were still sealed. It was fun to look. And I was really tempted by the spices and baskets. But I can't put anything else in my little house. The most fun was talking to the neighbors. Some neighbors met each other for the first time. Some we talked to we hadn't seen all winter.
We mostly talked about how to kill the gophers. We all have lost plants, bushes, and trees to these furry monsters. They make deer look like amateurs. One neighbor plans to get a chair, a book, and a beer and then sit with a pellet gun. He is going to take the gophers out one by one.
Yard sales are a lot of work. But they are a great way for the neighbors to get together.
Today, several of our neighbors had yard sales. They had lots of children's books and toys, strollers, playpens, and baby baths. And there were dishes, baskets, spices that were still sealed. It was fun to look. And I was really tempted by the spices and baskets. But I can't put anything else in my little house. The most fun was talking to the neighbors. Some neighbors met each other for the first time. Some we talked to we hadn't seen all winter.
We mostly talked about how to kill the gophers. We all have lost plants, bushes, and trees to these furry monsters. They make deer look like amateurs. One neighbor plans to get a chair, a book, and a beer and then sit with a pellet gun. He is going to take the gophers out one by one.
Yard sales are a lot of work. But they are a great way for the neighbors to get together.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
PARENTS
I have been reading my niece's blog. It is mainly about her life with husband Chris and the five children. They both work, yet they seem to be at every event a parent could be involved with. How they do it, I have no idea.
How does any parent do what they do? The sacrifices made monetary, emotional, physical, life style changing are enormous. Yet millions of parents do that every day. Many are single parents and do all this alone.
We only had one child and I worked until he was in his early teens. Many days I was run ragged. Even when I wasn't working I was running in umpteen directions. We bought him lessons for trumpet, and we did without date night. We worked the band concession stands in three states. Yes, he did high school in three states. We even marched beside the band as crowd control. We drove kids for church group, we taught Sunday School, we did what all parents do, our best. But we only had one child. How do parents make soccer games at two different ends of town?
I really admire the parents who have several children and make all the concerts, swim meets, plays, events. I admire them for their sacrifice of their own wishes and lives.
Why has this come up? This week my mother was 92. We have fought since the day I was born. I was not the sweet child my sister was. Nor cute and quiet like my brother. I always had to prove my point. My Mother was a young widow with three kids. She made the concerts, she drove us and our friends (in her 9 passenger station wagon) to out of town ball games. And she bought tickets and foods for the ones with no money. She even opened our home up every weekend for all my friends to party. She and my grandmother fed a pregnant classmate lunch every day to be sure she was healthy, this in the 50's. Most people shunned this young girl. She even proved my boyfriend wasn't a thief and a teacher was.
So Anna, you parented a whole slew of kids. Thank you.
How does any parent do what they do? The sacrifices made monetary, emotional, physical, life style changing are enormous. Yet millions of parents do that every day. Many are single parents and do all this alone.
We only had one child and I worked until he was in his early teens. Many days I was run ragged. Even when I wasn't working I was running in umpteen directions. We bought him lessons for trumpet, and we did without date night. We worked the band concession stands in three states. Yes, he did high school in three states. We even marched beside the band as crowd control. We drove kids for church group, we taught Sunday School, we did what all parents do, our best. But we only had one child. How do parents make soccer games at two different ends of town?
I really admire the parents who have several children and make all the concerts, swim meets, plays, events. I admire them for their sacrifice of their own wishes and lives.
Why has this come up? This week my mother was 92. We have fought since the day I was born. I was not the sweet child my sister was. Nor cute and quiet like my brother. I always had to prove my point. My Mother was a young widow with three kids. She made the concerts, she drove us and our friends (in her 9 passenger station wagon) to out of town ball games. And she bought tickets and foods for the ones with no money. She even opened our home up every weekend for all my friends to party. She and my grandmother fed a pregnant classmate lunch every day to be sure she was healthy, this in the 50's. Most people shunned this young girl. She even proved my boyfriend wasn't a thief and a teacher was.
So Anna, you parented a whole slew of kids. Thank you.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
AMERICAN IDOL FIVE, ONLY FIVE
Tonight on AI they had a double elimination. Because they saved Matt last week, two had to go tonight. They did an elimination right off the bat, no build up, just bam, you are history. Lil Rounds is gone. She just never lived up to her potential. Then they had lots of singers from the disco era to entertain us. Since it was Tivoed, we fast forwarded through that. Then it started. Adam is safe, Anoop in the bottom two, Chris safe, Danny safe, Matt is safe damn, damn, damn. And that leaves Allison. She is in the bottom two. NOOOOOO, this can't be. She is as good as Adam. What is wrong with America?
Anoop and Allison are brought to the middle of the stage and it is announced who is going home. Anoop! Yes, yes, yes!
Next week will be awful. Five are left. And it looks like the public likes Matt, who I can't stand. Someone I really really like will be cut. That is the way it works, we can only have one Idol.
Anoop and Allison are brought to the middle of the stage and it is announced who is going home. Anoop! Yes, yes, yes!
Next week will be awful. Five are left. And it looks like the public likes Matt, who I can't stand. Someone I really really like will be cut. That is the way it works, we can only have one Idol.
COOL BREEZES, COOL HOUSE
Finally, we are having comfortable weather. It is 73 degrees and the fog is coming in. We have the windows open, no fans or AC going. Mother Nature has cooled my house today. Tonight, probably the windows will be closed and the down comforter will again be pulled up.
Thank you Mother Nature on today, Earth Day, for normal weather.
Thank you Mother Nature on today, Earth Day, for normal weather.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
THEY LIED, IT ISN'T COOLING DOWN
Today was to be several degrees cooler. Well, it wasn't. It was as hot as Monday. It is now 11:30 P.M. and it is 76 degrees. We did turn off the AC, but the upstairs is hot and around 79. It will be another night not hot enough for AC and not cool enough to be comfortable. The weather people say tomorrow should be 10 to 15 degrees cooler. They better be right. I have worn all three of my short sleeved tops. Until I wash clothes again, I am out of hot weather clothes.
Monday, April 20, 2009
MONDAY, WEDDINGS, SCHOOL, AND STILL HOT
Today, it was 95. Broke the record for this date by 9 degrees. It is 10:45 and it is 76 degrees. Doesn't sound bad does it? Well, on a normal night it would be in the 50's. Too damn hot.
School was hot, dripping wet hot. I did paper work, graded papers, organized papers to go home. And I worked one on one in reading and math. One little girl has come so far. She is so immature ( I know she is 6, how mature can she be?) she has the attention span of a gnat, has a 100 reasons why she can't do the work. Sometimes she refused to read or do anything. But she is finally trying.
We worked on math and reading today. She was adding numbers like 10 +8. Most kids have to count every number to get to 18. She knew you just change the the zero. She understood. YEAH! Then she read a little book to me and totally understood it. And then the big test: Dolch word list. This is sight words such as once, was, could, should. These are words that don't sound out well. She nailed the lists. I told her what a great job she was doing. She explained to me she has a tutor now and now her brain is finally working, stuff is going in and now she can remember it. She was so proud of herself. This is why I get up early every Monday and work with the little ones. I really feel I have helped her.
I have complained about the Clerk from Hell, she isn't our only problem. The clients are just as bad. They put the info in the computer, they then check the license when we print it out, NOT. We had one we printed the license 3 times, and probably should have 4 times. The couple bought the license and came back in the afternoon with their witness. Problem, the witness had signed the license, yet hadn't seen the wedding ceremony yet. We reprinted the license and the couple resigned it. As I waited for the wedding room I noticed the witness' name (who was the groom's mother) was spelled one way as the mother and another way as the witness. I asked her which way was correct. She didn't have her glasses so couldn't read it. I spelled it for her. Her son said the second name was correct. We reprinted the third time, fixed the names to match. I did the ceremony. Mother signed and wrote her name a third way. We sent it in the state anyway.
School was hot, dripping wet hot. I did paper work, graded papers, organized papers to go home. And I worked one on one in reading and math. One little girl has come so far. She is so immature ( I know she is 6, how mature can she be?) she has the attention span of a gnat, has a 100 reasons why she can't do the work. Sometimes she refused to read or do anything. But she is finally trying.
We worked on math and reading today. She was adding numbers like 10 +8. Most kids have to count every number to get to 18. She knew you just change the the zero. She understood. YEAH! Then she read a little book to me and totally understood it. And then the big test: Dolch word list. This is sight words such as once, was, could, should. These are words that don't sound out well. She nailed the lists. I told her what a great job she was doing. She explained to me she has a tutor now and now her brain is finally working, stuff is going in and now she can remember it. She was so proud of herself. This is why I get up early every Monday and work with the little ones. I really feel I have helped her.
I have complained about the Clerk from Hell, she isn't our only problem. The clients are just as bad. They put the info in the computer, they then check the license when we print it out, NOT. We had one we printed the license 3 times, and probably should have 4 times. The couple bought the license and came back in the afternoon with their witness. Problem, the witness had signed the license, yet hadn't seen the wedding ceremony yet. We reprinted the license and the couple resigned it. As I waited for the wedding room I noticed the witness' name (who was the groom's mother) was spelled one way as the mother and another way as the witness. I asked her which way was correct. She didn't have her glasses so couldn't read it. I spelled it for her. Her son said the second name was correct. We reprinted the third time, fixed the names to match. I did the ceremony. Mother signed and wrote her name a third way. We sent it in the state anyway.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
IT IS HOT, REALLY HOT
Today at my front door, in the shade, it was 88 degrees. We live in the cool part of the Bay Area. We usually have lovely cooling fog this time of year. It burns off and it might get up to 70 degrees ( which is too hot for me) and comes back in at night. It is only April, this is the kind of weather we have in September or October. When we do get a little bit warm, the temperature will drop 15 to 20 degrees by early evening.
I nearly cut the air conditioner on today. The house wasn't hot, but it wasn't comfortable. We had guests, I was cooking, two ovens going, and burners on. Not nice in the kitchen. Did I say it was hot? Well it was.
Marty was showing friend Janet R and her husband Frank how to divide cymbidium orchids. I stood in the shade with a sun hat on. They were in the sun working. I brought water, beer, and deviled eggs to help them keep up their strength. We were all wilted by the time we sat down to lunch.
Later this afternoon I have been sitting with the fan aimed at me. As I said, I don't do heat. I just went out to check the temperature. I thought I would open up and let the house cool down. At 7:10 P.M. it was 83 degrees. It is still cooler inside, just not cool. Tomorrow is to be hotter.
I nearly cut the air conditioner on today. The house wasn't hot, but it wasn't comfortable. We had guests, I was cooking, two ovens going, and burners on. Not nice in the kitchen. Did I say it was hot? Well it was.
Marty was showing friend Janet R and her husband Frank how to divide cymbidium orchids. I stood in the shade with a sun hat on. They were in the sun working. I brought water, beer, and deviled eggs to help them keep up their strength. We were all wilted by the time we sat down to lunch.
Later this afternoon I have been sitting with the fan aimed at me. As I said, I don't do heat. I just went out to check the temperature. I thought I would open up and let the house cool down. At 7:10 P.M. it was 83 degrees. It is still cooler inside, just not cool. Tomorrow is to be hotter.
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