Fireworks

4th of July, 2009....I so look forward to fireworks displays.
I was supposed to work all weekend, but our last patient was sent home Sat morning, so I was called off Sat & Sun night. Ordinarily I hate that, I'd rather work than use my PTO to make up the hours, but I was happy about this one. My neighbors had planned a cook-out and I really wanted to attend. I got to meet 2 more of my neighbors, the newest 2 to move in. Both early to mid 20s guys. Nice enough young men. We cooked out, ate, talked and had a great time.
I left to go meet a co-worker & her son and to watch the fireworks at Redemption Outreach on Haywood Rd. It pays to know the right folks, and we got to go on the roof of a building nearby to watch. I set up my tripod and took some practice shots to get my settings right. This year, I used the remote for all the shots and they turned out so pretty, much better than last year! See the samples..? I love fireworks!! Afterwards, my friend, her son & I went to Stax's & looked at the pics. The blue one posted here was his favorite, so I've had it printed and I've framed it and I'm leaving it at work for her to give to him. I love that kid!
Then yesterday, I went with my neice & her husband to see the house they've put a bid in on. They are so excited. She showed me the pics on the computer of the inside, since we could only see the outside. It is beautiful. Great location, big yard, in a cul-de-sac, beautiful home. I'm going to help her landscape her yard. She's got furniture picked out and when we went back to her house, she showed me what her ideas are. I'm going Thurs with her to drive to Ikea in Charlotte to get some more ideas, then we're going to deep clean her apartment and get it move out ready. I'm so happy for them and so incredibly proud of them! I thoroughly enjoyed spending the afternoon with them. They're just interesting people to be around. And I love them so much!
What a great weekend!

I love these guys, even if they are nerds!

Caption is "Nerd Suit, Activate"

Best weekend ever

Friday was my birthday. One of my best friends and I have the same birthday, but different years. She had called me about 3 weeks before my birthday and said that her husband was making big plans for she & I and told me not to make any plans. It was dinner reservations somewhere & he wouldn't tell her or me where. I thought that was so sweet-we all 3 celebrated together last year too-and was very excited to go. They picked me up on Fri and he told me on the way that we were dropping by to pick up another friend at her daughter's house. No prob, the more the merrier! We stopped by and she ran out to the car and asked me to come in because her daughter had a birthday present for me. As I was getting out of the car, Gary leaned over and told me to make it quick or we were going to be late for the reservations. I followed her up to the door and as I walked in, all these voices yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" It was a surprise party. I was so shocked, then I started crying. It was great!! They had collected pictures of me from about 3 years old and had them posted all over the house, had put together a CD with top 10 hits for every year since 1959, had news headlines from '59 posted, house values, cars...etc. It was a blast. I didn't get home until 2am. Then was so wound up that I couldn't get to sleep until after 5am. I have the greatest friends!

Went out to eat to celebrate some more on Saturday night, then had dinner with dad, mom & sibs on father's day. Then my brother took me & one sis boat riding on Lake Jocassee. What a great weekend!

Oh Yeah!

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Oh Yeah

Park, park, I love the park!

I got a call from my neighbor Linda this (Sat) morning. She'd never been to a Shakespeare in the Park play and wanted to know if I'd go with her and her son. If you've never been to one of these plays, you owe it to yourself to go. I've never been to one that I didn't throughly enjoy. They're funny, different and free. Yes, free. They use the language of William Shakespeare, but dress in modern clothing. They include an audience member at some point, tonight was when one character was being chased by another and pulled a man in front up out of his seat to protect her. Then, in spite of multiple warnings to TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES, a phone rang up near the front. One of the characters (they move in and out of the audience), picked up the phone and answered it, then told the caller why the call-ee couldn't talk on the phone, then turned the phone off and gave it back. Needless to say, the audience was howling with laughter, and the silly dumb*** who ignored the instruction was completely embarrassed. 

The play was great. You can see that the actors just enjoy what they're doing. At the end of the play, they walk around with pillowcases and take donations. It's held at Falls Park, behind Falls Cottage. You can bring a blanket, and sit up front in the area reserved for blankets, or bring a fold out chair. Coolers-food & drink-are welcome. The shows start at 7pm, but to get a good parking spot and sitting spot, you need to be at the park by 6pm. To get  more info, go to this site:

Upstateshakespearefestival.org

Man, I sound like an ad for them, huh??! I just love going and would recommend this to anyone looking for an inexpensive evening out...free play, bring a pic-nik and you're set!

Hee-Hee

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This and That

For many years, my dept at work was run by a manager who was slowly spiraling into some serious emotional and physical problems. She has never had the insight to recognize this, and seemed to believe that everyone was out to get her. This was not true, we all were very concerned and worried about her. But she made work very tense and any contact with her was very uncomfortable. She was erratic in her professional behaviour, gave conflicting answers to questions from one day to the next, reacted to problems either by ignoring them or by becoming emotional and ranting, would not be honest-if she told you to do something that later turned out to be incorrect, she would deny ever telling you to do it and would go behind your back and complain to coworkers about you screwing up, brought personal problems that were better kept to herself to work and blabbed stuff we didn't need to know. This all is on top of a suspected drug problem, prescription drugs, and alcohol. 

We, as a group, used to get together for dinner, holidays...etc... but stopped all that after a particularly painful Christmas dinner. She showed up at the restaurant very drunk, continued to drink after we arrived, complained in a very loud voice about how crappy the salad bar was-the whole time she was putting together her salad, bitched, griped and complained about her meal and sent it back, I think 3 times. Then started complaining about her (grown) daughter's plate and tried to send it back too. Her daughter told her to quit complaining and told the waiter that her meal was perfect. This was at Steak & Ale, where there are 3-4 tables per room, so everyone in the room was subjected to this nonsense. The more she drank, the louder she became. It was embarrassing. I told several people after the dinner that this would be the last time I would attend any get together that she would attend. I think this was everyone's feeling as this was the last time we all got together outside work.    

Well, she lost her job about 6 weeks ago. I hate it for her, but it was a long time coming. I wish they could have found another position for her, one where she wasn't in charge of others. But I suspect there was a lot going on behind the scenes that we weren't privy to. It's been upsetting, but the tension at work is gone. I no longer pull into the parking lot and get a knot in my stomach when I see her car, or try to scoot unseen past her office door. That part was usually easy, as she'd wait until you got on down the hall then start yelling for you. I could just ignore that and claim I didn't hear her the next time I saw her.

Well, as we all know, yesterday was Memorial Day. One of the newest members of our team suggested a cook-out. It was held at a co-worker's house, we all bought dishes or supplies and we had a ball!! It was so nice to be able to get together outside of work. I think getting to know your co-workers outside of work can make your work relationship better. Most everyone brought spouses, kids or some combination. We got to spend time together, catch up, see how much the kids had grown and just had a wonderful time. OMG, it was so nice to be able to do that without the loud, drunk, obnoxious, inappropriate boss around. Those of us who could stayed and helped clean up. I took several bags of left overs to work to Kelli & Sunny, who had to work. 

I hope this is the beginning of many more such get-togethers.  And the beginning of a new phase at work with our new manager!