Windows Live Writer test

So, the new update came to my computer that said I could have an icon that would let me post directly to my blog.  So I thought I’d check it out.  That’s what this post is all about.  I was a blogger user a long time ago.  I’ve hidden a couple blogs that no longer pertained to my life. But now I feel pretty cool that something I’ve done is still relevant.  LOL.

You know, I went through the whole Yahoo! 360, MySpace, then Facebook thing.  Every time I finally got used to something, everyone I knew switched social media networks.  I think it’s all a bit crazy.  I mean, if you actually wanted to talk to these people… aren’t you texting them anyway.   I know. You probably expected me to ask if you weren’t just calling them… perhaps snail-mailing them.  No.  I’m old, but I’m not that old.  Not just yet.  I do my best to embrace new technology.  Maybe that’s where I’ve gone wrong a time or two.  I should just do what I like, and stick to that.  If anyone really wants to know what I think, they will probably look for me where I am. That makes sense.  At any rate, that was the only purpose of this blog entry…. just to check and make sure my old mine could still wrap itself around something new.  Hope everyone I know and love it doing well!

Laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Taterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

A long-time friend of mine was burried today. His new wife of 7-months is also a close friend. I can't begin to imagine what she's going through. She waited so long for love to find her again... only for it to be taken from her so quickly. I don't know how his kids are dealing with it, either, after losing their mother.... I believe it was 2 or 3 years ago. I wasn't in town when she died, but I know he was devastated.

I am happy for him that he found love one more time before he died. I am happy for my other friend that she found love with him again. At over 40 years old she seemed a school girl again when they got together. Life is so precious. Sometimes we need to put aside out differences and realize this. It's not always easy, but eventually someone needs to be the bigger, better person and extend the olive branch. Unfortunately, most times, people only realize this all too late. I know that I am fortunate to have all of my loved ones in my life. As life goes on, I know I will lose many of them. All I can do at that point is thank God for each and every day that I had with them - each smile, each tear. It's a sad day, but filled with so many happy memories.

Do me a favor - give someone a hug today, please.
Thanks!

The Things Kids Don't Know Amaze Me!

This weekend I had the opportunity to spend the day with a bunch of local kids. It was an event set up by our DNR where they could learn about hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. A few things surprised me about the day.

The first one was the turnout, given the cold and rainy weather. It was great to see so many kids interested enough in all of these activities that they would still come out, despite the weather. And, I have to say, most of them were dressed well for the weather.

One of the things that bothered me, though, were the amount of parents that simply dropped their kids off and left. There used to be a time that, when your kids were interested in something... a good wholesome activity that tends to keep kids from drinking, doing drugs, and getting in trouble... that parents would go to any lengths to show at least some interest and support of their kids.

Another thing that really bothered me was the amount of 7, 8, 9, and 10 year olds who didn't even know their own address! When I went to school, you needed to know your parents' names, your address, and your phone number before you even went to kindergarten. If one of these kids were to ever, God forbid, get lost somewhere. How would they be able to tell anyone where they belonged?

One young lad even turned to his brother while filling out the simple paperwork (name, address, phone, parents' name) and asked, "What's Mom's first name?" Really?!? Kids don't know these things? I admit, as a kid, not knowing my grandmother's first name. I called my grandparents Gramma and Grammpa (insert last name here). It was a matter of respect. We never called our grandparents by their first names. But I'm fairly sure that I have always known my parents' first names!

You know, this leads me to a bit of a different rant, but I think it fits here. All over the country you hear proposals about linking students' grades to teachers' pay. In a way, I understand that. But what about the parents? Where are they? Why are they no longer responsible for what a child learns?

Again I must say, when I was a kid, my parents made sure my homework was done. They made sure they looked it over and that I was grasping the concepts. I don't think this responsibility lies solely with the teachers. Before you argue that things were different "back then", let me say that both of my parents worked. They both held full-time jobs the entire time I was in school. I guess maybe priorities were different back then. Maybe kids were more important back then? A sense of responsibility demanded that children, and their welfare, be the center of the family.

Before anyone gets too irate with me, I'm not speaking of all parents here. I know quite a few people who are awesome parents and would do anything to help their kids succeed. Sadly, though, they don't seem to be the majority anymore. Many seem to think that how a child performs in school is a direct reflection on no one other than the child. Really? It doesn't reflect parenting skills in any way, shape, or form? Really? That's all I can say.....

Another NaNo will begin soon!

Once again, I've decided to get involved in the yearly noveling craziness at www.nanowrimo.org I will, once again, write a novel of 50,000 words or more in the month of November. I'm feverishly preparing for this journey as we speak. I'm fleshing out characters, setting scenes in my mind, and figuring out where I will go with all of the information my characters are already feeding me.

There is one difference this year. This year I will be a Municipal Liaison for my area! I'm so excited to head a group of Northern Wisconsin novelists! Its an added responsibility, to be sure, but I think it's going to be great. It will really help me make NaNo my focus for the month and beyond. Last year I slacked a bit after the month of November and I didn't get into the ABNA contest on Amazon.com, but this year I'm going to do it! I did it once and got farther along in the competition than I originally thought I would. This time I hope for even better results. Of course, the ultimate would be to win the publishing contract with Penguin Press. Dare I dream that high? Of course! If you want to be one of those people who thinks maybe you might try something and then just see what happens, life's not going to go your way. You have to believe in yourself and that you can accomplish what you want to accomplish in life!

So, off I head, into the great, wide world of NaNo, with the hope and desire to refine my menagerie of 50K plus words until I have an actual novel and a pitch that can get my where I want to be!

I also wish the best of luck to all of my friends and accomplices in this venture! Write like you were born to!
Laterzzzzzzzz, Taterzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Beckie

The new job!

I haven't written in a while, but I have to say that my new job is very refreshing! I'm not the boss. I'm not anything special. I'm just a server. I go to work, serve the public, and go home and have a life. I've been in management so long... it's nice to just have a regular 40-hour week job. I'm not saying that I'll never go back into management. I'm just saying that it's nice to have a break.

It's nice to interact with customers without having to worry about what 10 other people are doing ever second. It's great! I truly thought I'd be in management forever... but that last job really took its toll on me. Maybe I'm just at the age where I realize there's more to life than work. I've had a great time - both at work and in life - since I quit my last job. I have time to fish, I have time to write. I have time to just be lazy if the mood strikes. I try not to do that too often, but I have to say that the occasional nap does creep up on me.

So, I know this is a pretty lame post, but I'm ready to write more.... and I still work with the public, so there's always plenty of fodder there! Take care all and read well and often!

Karma - You Make Me Smile

As the saying goes, Karma is a b&%$. Since I took over my latest restaurant two months ago, my junior managers, one of whom was running the place until I took over as GM, have been trying everything they can think of to work against me and make thing difficult. They've even tried to get me fired. They have about 75% of the staff thinking I'm a terrible manager and incredibly mean and just ... well, an asshole. So, a couple people have gotten other jobs and, rather than give notice, they have just walked out in the middle of their shift. Today we had one more as a no-call, no-show. I heard she had an interview for another job, so I'm assuming she got it... and this is her way of telling me she gave me a two week notice two weeks ago.

The funniest thing about this whole thing, is that if it keeps up this way, the two women who were looking to get rid of me so they could run the place (into the ground) just as they have for the last few years, will be there alone with a very, very small crew. I've already given my notice. I'm done in a week. They can have the place. I've had more than enough. And since they've run off all the staff under the guise of me being a terrible manager, they can feel free to try to rebuild a crew in a town of 1500 people were any applicants at all are hard to come by. Have fun, ladies!

I know how ugly these kinds of battles can get. I've been there before. The main difference is that when I was in this situation before, I had the unwaivering support of my boss. That's not the case here. In one breath he tells me I have his complete support and in the next breath makes it evident that he's scared to get rid of the people who are causing the problems - simply because they've always been there through all of the GMs who have come and gone. Well, there is a reason that GMs don't last in this particular location. It's these two women! I guess I can't make him see that, so it's time to move on.

When you hear from crew members that someone said this or that or whatever about you, you take it with a grain of salt. But, when I walked out into the dining room during lunch today only to hear one of my junior "managers" telling a customer that the manager is worthless and doesn't know what she's doing, etc... well, then I tend to believe everything I've been told about what is said behind my back.

Funny thing is, I know that I'm damn good at what I do. I've been doing it for a long time, and I've had great results. When you mix going to work for a company who cares absolutely nothing about you as a person, with undermining behavior of the people who are supposed to work for you, then it's just not worth it. I could go on and on, but I won't. Suffice it to say that I am closing this chapter of my life and starting a new one. This one, as short as it was, was still pretty ugly. At some point, though, I'm sure I'll find that it has helped me in some way, shape, or form, to become a better person. Right now, though, I am too close to it and it does nothing but tick me off and make me irritable. LOL. So, out with the old and on to brighter days!

Time for a Change

I guess there comes a time in everyone's life where they realize there are things in the world that are more important than money. Well, don't get me wrong. I've always known that. It's just that this job has made it crystal clear to me. 60 and 70-hour work weeks coupled with two hours of driving a day has made me seriously reconsider my career choice. I'll be changing jobs in a couple of weeks - I'm going to be in an hourly position as a server and bartender. It'll be less money, of course, but definitely more peace of mind.

For the last five months I've been able to do nothing but work. Oh yes, I've gotten in a little fishing here and there. Don't get me wrong. But as far as quality of life goes, I'd put it in the "nonexistent" category. Some weeks I sleep and work and sleep and work - and that's it.

So, on to better things, I say. It's going to be tough for a while, money-wise. There are still bills to pay and whatnot... but we'll figure out a way. We always do. Making ends meet shouldn't take away your entire life. I've always said that. Looking back, I'd rather deal with Country Kitchen and all of the crap we went through there, than deal with what I'm dealing with at work now.

So, here's to: back to blogging; back to writing; back to fishing; back to life!!