Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Smells like burnt feathers....

You know most people get hurt doing something stupid once in their life but they learn from it. Some people are just naturally clumsy and get hurt multiple times but in small ways. And some people like me are naturally clumsy but also get hurt in major ways but I never learn. couple that with my natural gracefulness and voila! You have the walking disaster that David is getting ready to marry...god help him! I have fallen up the stairs, fallen while walking in a straight line on even ground fell off a boat walked off a dock and burned my hair off...twice. I walk into walls and constantly bang my head on the cabinet even though I know for a fact that it is still there and hasn't moved. i don't understand why it is that I can't walk three feet without stubbing my toe or sum such thing. I am now getting paranoid about my walk down the aisle. Am I going to fall on my face?!?!? of course I didn't so it the first time and my dress is shorter this time around...here's hoping!

Happy Thoughts!

Michelle"0 days without injuries"Gasaway

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Back story

So I found this on another blog and she didn't know whom had written it originally either...


To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job.As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY:I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero... Nada... Zilch.The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.Here is what many of you don't understand... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? You defibrillate his heart! Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.So where am I going with all this?It's quite simple.If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you. I'll fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about...

Signed,
The Boss

So to me this at first seemed a little angry buuuuut I think it gives perspective to some things

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Not me...sunday?

So I actually picked this up from Brina...who picked it up from one of her friends (whom I believe is a girl I went to church with when I was younger...but that's neither here nor there) It's actually called not me MONDAY...buuuut it is Sunday and I have totally been neglecting David during the week...and it is going to be pretty short. so here goes

I did not get into a huge fight over house cleaning with David. I was not insulted by his comments about how much I suck at it. I did not act like a five year old and pout for an hour..I'm way to mature for that. i did not stay up till 3 o'clock in the morning reading out on the porch while David slept last night (this morning). I did not go back to sleep after he left even though I promised promised promised him to start laundry immediately.

I think that's it...you know its amazing how much better it feels to see all the stuff you didn't do that may or may not feel guilty about! lol

So I know there was a time before interwebz and blogging...i can't remember it but I know it was there. I need to try and cut the blogs down to only once or twice a week. Although i am driven crazy by the lack of blogs for me to read! lol in a perfect world I would have may wonderful blogs I could write in 3 seconds flat with no spelling errors and all of my blogger friends would be able to do the same...everyday...so I would always have something to read! lol

Le Sigh...back to cleaning!
'
Happy Thoughts!

Michelle"I smell of comet and laundry detergent at the moment"Gasaway

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Do I really look like someone with a plan?

Cause I'm not. No where near. But somehow I am the one who is planning the wedding. The thing that kills me is that I was in theater for four years. I was head of the prop department I had had to have a plan of some kind or else no one would have their props and Mr. rush would not be happy...lets face it "The rainbow would be in a sour mood" and no one wanted that. I am a teacher and my whole career revolves around planning and organizing. so why is this wedding kicking my ever widening ass!?! I think part of the problem is everyone has an opinion on what we should do. And as well meaning as the family's are it seems like none of them are considering the feelings of the main two people involved. Then there are the people who assume because you bring it up in their presence that they are involved and invited. for example

Me:*sigh*

co-worker:Whats up wedding blues?

Me: Not really it's just stressful. Everything seems to be so easy when I write it down on paper but doing it seems like pulling teeth. Like the flowers...I just want the big pink daisy's with thick stems...

CW:OH MY GOD! I know exactly where to get those...I can take you this weekend and we can do more wedding planning! You need to let me know when the wedding is so I can get the time off!

Me:uhhhhh

OK so I know it might be bad to not invite the co-workers (I mean I like most of them) but small and intimate is the wedding David and I are going for. We are only inviting immediate family and the one friend who is coming is also our photographer. I hate telling people "no your not invited" but I know i will have to eventually. I wish David was more involved but at this point he is SO busy with work (he works hard...and has a very demanding job) that all he sees is wedding 10 months away...I have time...HA! We so don't have time. i have been through this once (I vaguely remember declaring a week before my first wedding that I would never do this again).

Not to mention the wedding porn that I have found on the new wedding website that Brina informed me on...I thought I was bad on the knot! of course She and I discussed it and a lot of the women on the knot are...well...kinda bitchy so I'm thinking not so much with posting there anymore. Le Sigh! ah well in ten months it will be over (of course we come back from our honeymoon just in time for thanksgiving and Christmas...I must have lost my damn mind planning a wedding that close to the holidays!)

Crazy thoughts!

Michelle"At least the wedding nightmares haven't started...yet"Gasaway

Monday, January 19, 2009

Why...

Why is it that just when things are going right...just when I am perfectly happy that something has to go wrong? I sometimes think that maybe it is all my fault. I mean I am irresponsible to a fault. I lose things constantly Money,keys,important paper work. I know I am 25 and I need to fix this but I don't know how. The saying "I would lose my head if it wasn't screwed on" totally pertains to me. I am so incredibly like my mother it isn't even funny. The thing is my mom and I both wear rose colored glasses. We see the world as pretty and bad things for us have to be really really bad. The difference is this, She tries to ignore the bad things thinking if she does they will just go away. I don't ignore them I just don't realize it's happening until it blind sides me. And I am beginning to realize that a lot of the issues i am having right now stem from my first marriage. I have always said if I could go back I would do things differently (i.e. run screaming) but would I? David and I are together and met because of my ex and Friends I made through her. Le Sigh. thinking of the past does nothing to help the future. We will be OK and in just under 10 months I will be Mrs. Sarra...YAY!

Morning Thoughts!

Michelle"Just keep breathing"Gasaway

Thursday, January 15, 2009

you can never tell

So I have decided to make a scrapbook for myself and David. We have taken pictures of everything and even have pictures from the night we meet and our first date to the day we told each other "I love you" for the first time and the night he proposed plus all the holidays. I also have a ton of stuff to put in it like napkins from the restaurant etc. Is that crazy? lol I think not! I think I want to give it to him on the day of our wedding while we are waiting. I think it will be a nice gift...I think. We will see.
The funny thing is as I was going through all of our pictures and figuring out which ones to use I just kept thinking "holy crap" In 10 months from today...we will be married! and in 3 months we will have been together for a year...a flipping year! It seems like we are still so new to each other. We still rush home to be with each other and want to spend our free time together. I still fall asleep laying on his chest and wake up with him curled up around me. and I still love it.

Happy Thoughts!

Michelle"and the countdown really begins!"Gasaway

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Another weekend without rest

At least for David. We went up to my dads this weekend. He was taking David hog hunting. I never myself understood the attraction to hunting to be honest. You have to get up at like the ass crack of dawn schlep through the woods in a half awake stupor and sit either in a tree or on the ground for long periods of time with out access to a bathroom (I'm not peeing in the woods...ain't happening), heater, air conditioner (depending on the season), or food (unless you pack snacks that make no noise when you open them or eat them and have no sent that could scare away animals) and wait around for animals. but not just any animal oh no...the specific one that you are allowed to hunt! sometimes you get one and if you do you have then haul it out of the woods and will not even get into the whole skinning and cleaning part...icky. I can barley make a ham sandwich with out thinking of Wilbur and getting sad so for me hunting is NEVER going to happen! But I do not fault my father for it and if David wants to learn how then I will not stand in his way. I still eat meat...I just don't want to see it prancing around the forest before I do.



But while David (who BTW didn't kill anything...which I was secretly thankful for) was hunting with my dad my step mom and I were doing girlie things like wedding planning and watching chick flicks. YAY!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

I know I know!

You would think I would do better keeping up with this blog! I have been super duper busy though. David and I are getting married! And if that wasn't exciting enough...one of my oldest (as in known each other for a long time but reconnected about a year ago) friends is also engaged! Yay! Originally I started this to post my preschool stories. a couple of years ago my director/mentor and I were talking about how wonderful it would be to have a preschool teachers handbook. stories of how students and parents have touched our lives and how we in turn have touched theirs. I began collecting storeys from teachers parents and even former student and former parents. But somehow I got sidetracked. I hope I can start up again. I tried writing a short fiction story based on several stories I was reading about in the papers about child abandonment from the perspective of the person who finds a child but as always after getting some constructive criticism and re-reading it I decided it was no good and deleted it. I don't think people realise how difficult it is to write fiction sometimes. I have a million stories in my head but after I write them down...it just seems like they go from being inspired and imaginative to forced and contrite. But re-telling stories of my experiences in the classroom...that I think I do better at. here's to a happy new year!

Happy Thoughts!

Michelle"Brina I'm sorry about not responding immediately to your comment I would love to go work-out with you! I don't get e-mail alerts when I get comments....I will check this more often now!lol"Gasaway