Susie's Steps

I didn't blog yesterday, because something was wrong with AOL, and everything was working s o o o s l o w l y. I was falling asleep and finally gave up!

I got most of a day off today. John called me at work at 6:30am to tell me Madeline had a fever. John has to be at work at 4pm, and I don't get off until 6pm. So, I tried to get someone to come in to let me leave early. The last time I was doing that, I was sick in the trash can all day before someone could be troubled to come in at 4pm. I had been there since 6am. I was not optimistic today. But isn't that when God steps in? Amazingly, the girl who was supposed to come in for her 4 hour admin day today, was 8 hours short on her pay due to surgery. And she was willing to come in at 10am and work until 6pm for me--and it wouldn't cause any overtime to do this. YAY! And even better, I have sick time earned to cover the 8 hours. YAY! So, I came home at 10:30am, and Madeline and her Daddy were sound asleep. Far be it from me to wake them up--I took a nap too! Guess I must have been tired. I NEVER take naps, but I slept for 3 HOURS! Wow. Hope I can sleep tonight.

You know, the more you try not to think about pink elephants, the more you think about them? I have an elephant in my room, and it won't let me sleep much at night. Will you pray about my unspoken request?

Well, I don't know what that was about, but when I opened up blogger "create post", all the fun buttons were missing. There was no font, normal size, bold, italic, etc. Just title and typing space. [twilight zone music playing]

Kind of a cold, overcast, damp day today. But danged if I missed out on my 4.7 walking miles and 3.5 jogging miles. Go me. I probably won't be able to stand up from the bed in the morning, but maybe my metabolism will be revved anyway, y'think? LOL.

Do any of y'all ever still have momma/daughter moments? I mean the ones where you're quite sure you have been transported back to the age of 13 in dealing with your momma? I had one yesterday. When I walk/jog in the park, I usually get my jogging and extra walking out of the way before 10am when my Momma gets to the park and we walk her 3 miles. Well, yesterday, I was so pleased that I had jogged a whole 3 miles straight (exhausted, but pleased). I met Momma in the parking lot, raised both fists in the air Rocky-style and said, "I ROCK!" My Momma furrowed her brow and said, "Iroc? Isn't that a car?" I stopped just short of rolling my eyes (she always asked if there was something interesting to see up there), and explained my meaning. LOL--but it's been awhile since I had that rolling eyes, sigh of exasperation, "Mom!" kind of moment. It was kind of funny.

By SHELLEY EMLING
semling@coxnews.com
Published on: 03/22/06
LONDON — Has anyone ever actually seen a rainbow-colored sheep?
Teachers at nursery schools in Oxfordshire have asked children to change the words of "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" to "Baa, Baa, Rainbow Sheep" to avoid the possibility of offending anyone.





"This type of thing is definitely happening in all parts of the country," said Laura Midgley, co-founder of Britain's Campaign Against Political Correctness. "This makes an issue about the color black when there should not be one.

"It's just a color at the end of the day," she said.

As in the United States, the removal of alienating or potentially offensive words is part of a political correctness drive that has gained momentum in recent years across British society.

Many argue that the power of words is underestimated and are pleased that more people seem to be showing sensitivity toward ethnicity and sexuality.

But others wonder whether the desire not to offend anyone has gone too far.

This isn't the first time nursery rhymes have fallen victim here to the P.C. campaign. In 2003, the Mothercare store chain here began selling cassette tapes and CDs featuring a new version of Humpty Dumpty in which there was a happy ending.

The new version said that "Humpty Dumpty opened his eyes, falling down was such a surprise, Humpty Dumpty counted to 10, then Humpty Dumpty got up again."

"The political correctness campaign has been going on for some time, but we are seeing more of it these days than we have in the past," Midgley said.

She and others say this latest desire to not offend by getting rid of "black sheep" is ludicrous.

The nursery rhyme dates back to the mid-1700s and is related to a tax imposed on wool by the king that divided receipts equally among the local lord (the master), the church (the dame), and the farmer (the little boy). Black wool was apparently taxed at a lower rate than white wool.

The charity group that runs the nurseries in Oxfordshire, Parents and Children Together, said the changes to the nursery rhyme have nothing to do with race.

In a statement, the group said it has established that the children at the nurseries would now sing a variety of descriptive words so that the rhyme becomes an active one.

The children will be asked to sing "sad," "blue," "pink," "black," "white," "happy," "hopping," and "bouncing" when describing the sheep in order to encourage the children to extend their vocabulary and use up some energy.

I pushed the envelope again, but I think this may be my top level for a bit . . .
Walked: 4.7 miles
Jogged: 3.5 miles
Total: 8.2 miles.
I jogged 3 miles straight, so that was a first for me. Go me! : )
Fitday says I burned 540 calories. Does that sound right?

I meant to post yesterday, but boy howdy! It was a DAY! We went to church normal time. I was helping SELTC girls songleading during classtime. After church, we had to run get Daniel some lunch. He had Bulletin Board work at noon, Drama from 1pm to 3pm, puppets at 4pm, chorus at 5pm, and Bible Bowl team at 6pm--all SELTC. What a day! And I was trying so desperately to make a dent in the laundry. It's neverending.

I did have a really bright spot in my day. I got to see one of my best friends that I hadn't seen since Malachi was a tiny one. I had heard that she went through a painful divorce and had recently remarried. What I hadn't heard was that she's expecting! I was so excited for her! I think she's in shock a bit (she's in her 40's and has a 23 year old son), but I think her husband's pretty stoked. He doesn't have any children. But I think a baby is always to be celebrated, so I'm so happy for her. : )

I just finished the last book in the Redemption series by Karen Kingsbury. Truly, if you read nothing else, READ THESE BOOKS!!! This lady has a huge God-given talent for writing and for bringing her readers closer to God. Guess I'll be bugging Momma to let me read the next series--I know she has them already. Once you start reading this lady's books, you can't stop until you've consumed all of them. Yes, I know . . . my name is Susie, and I'm an addict . . .

Getting ready to go jog, then walk the park with Momma. Have a SUPER GREAT day!! : )

Hi, it's me. (Who were you expecting?)

One more shift this week! WHOO HOO! And it's a weekend day, too. Maybe it'll be a great day! I'm willing! : )

We've been having politics problems at work, and if you've ever seen me, I'm sure you couldn't possibly miss the bright, flashing neon sign on my forehead that says, "Tell me EVERYTHING! Your whole life story! I need to know it all, and I need to know RIGHT NOW!" So everyone keeps trying to drag me into it all. UGH. I just want to smile, laugh, and do my job (maybe in that order). But sometimes it's hard to keep your spirits up with politics raging around you. But at least it's only my immediate supervisor who is mad at me, and I never really work with her. ; ) But I think everyone else is mad at everyone else!

Daniel and I had a good time on the way home. John picks Daniel up from school and drops him off at the police department on his way to work. He sits in the kitchen, finishing his homework and then watching some TV until I get off work at 6pm. Then we get to ride home together, just the two of us. Sometimes we talk on the way home, but tonight was Friday night, and Fridays always feel so celebratory (even if I work on Saturdays). So we turned the CD player up loud (which is pretty loud!) and sang DC Talk's "The Dive" at the top of our lungs. I hope I never get Alzheimer's Disease, because it's moments like these that I want to remember for the rest of my life. I sure do love my Daniel. : )

Anyone remember the theme song from the movie "Lost In Space" (1998)? My kids and I are all jamming to it--really a kind of cool song! My cell phone plays a rather simple version of it when my son calls me.

I'm also still chuckling about Terri's response on Donna's blog. In case you missed it, here it is--
TL said...
A list of ways that Spin is different from church:

The music is loud (and good)
Everyone participates
It's hot and not colder than a well digger's hiney!
We get out early sometimes :)
Every class is different

Ways that Spin is the same as church:

I sit in the same place
I complain when the leader changes
I'm a slackerIt hurts to get stronger
My best friend is right beside me!

7:45 AM, March 22, 2006

Good stuff. I never thought much about a well digger's hiney before, but y'know. ; )

What a day. I didn't have to be at work until 8am, so I got to sleep in until 6am--what a luxury! ; ) Then, I got to go to work and watch my supervisor pointedly ignore me and gush over everyone else. It really was a challenge in "love your enemy". She even kept me waiting on some information while she gushed on the phone to her husband for 10 minutes. I just stood there waiting. What else could I do? But I was determined that I would beat this, so before I left, I asked her if she needed to go to the bathroom (dispatchers cannot leave the dispatch room unless another qualified personnel relieves them--we get no time off for lunch, even on a 12 hour shift) or if she needed me to go get her some lunch. She very stiffly said, no, she was fine. Well, I tried.

I tried to go jogging today, but I guess I really worked my legs doing interval step training the last 2 days. I jogged 1 measly mile and walked 1 mile before going home. I thought I was going to DIE. My legs were fatiguing something awful. But it was still a small triumph. I didn't really want to do ANYTHING--so I accomplished SOMETHING. Go me.

I really hate Johannes Kepler, did you know that?

The girl I asked you to pray for a few days ago still needs prayers. Her name is Christine. Remember she fell and broke her neck? Well, they operated on her, and apparently she's still in a terrible lot of pain. They're gonna operate again, hoping to alleviate the pain. I believe they said it's nerve related. And she's just a young girl.

Also, keep my parents in your prayers as they drive back from Dallas, Texas on Friday.

Happy night, y'all! :)

Wow. What a day. It really wasn't too bad until this evening. I'm quite certain that a body snatching has occurred, and someone stole my 3 precious angels and left me 3 something elses. Oh. My. Gosh. Everyone seems to be out of sorts today.

And oh! Poor John. He keeps his hair nice and short, and he generally cuts it himself with the clippers (and has me double check for mistakes, and help with the back). Well, I was sitting at my computer chatting with my sister when I hear him holler. Apparently, he was cutting along with a #2 guard when the guard fell out and he cut a nice GOUGE out of his hair! So, naturally he couldn't leave it like that, and had to shave his entire head! Wow. Madeline (who is always very concerned with appearances) asked him, "Daddy? What did you do with your hair???" It made me remember back to a time when she was 3, and John shaved off his mustache and goatee. LOL--Madeline just stood there and stared a long time before asking, "Are you my daddy?" I was the convulsing shadow behind the door, hands covering my mouth so none of those renegade giggles could escape, tears rolling down my face.

Do any of you remember when you were in high school or college, and you thought if I ever make it out of here, I won't ever have to do homework again? Maybe none of you did, but I actually looked forward to that aspect of grownup life. I WAS CHEATED. No one told me that when you grow up and have kids, you're responsible for their homework too! Daniel is writing a paper about Johannes Kepler. Do any of you know who he is? I don't believe I have ever heard of the man before in my life (and I'm quite sure I could have survived nicely NOT knowing the man). Apparently he was some kind of mathematician from the 1600's. I'm not sure what benefit it is to have Daniel learn this, but we don't tell him that. Have to support the teacher, you know . . .

I finally saw "Walk The Line". The musical sequences were VERY good. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did very well singing like Johnny and June Carter Cash. However, like it mostly happens, the movie did absolutely NO justice to the book. If you're ever looking for an interesting autobiography, read Johnny Cash's. He led a very interesting life! Rough, but interesting.

Anyway, it's almost turn-into-a-pumpkin time . . . good night! : )

Well, a girl from the message board I frequent was telling me that her little girl has one of those memories where she hears the song once, and knows all the words to the song. So, she said the other day, to her horror, that the little girl was singing the jingle to a HERPES MEDICATION COMMERCIAL! Oh. My. Gosh! I like to have hurt myself laughing so hard! THAT is the kind of thing that kids remember to spout back!

We had a fairly busy day, trying to get our house back tidied up where it's supposed to be. I did interval step training today, because naturally it rains on my day off. No jogging for me. And it's funny, but I've been jogging so often lately, and I haven't done step in a looooooooooong time. And my legs are more fatigued from the step routine than the jogging. I wouldn't have figured that, but there it is. I'll probably be feeling this tomorrow. Maybe it'll be sunny tomorrow, and I can jog. That'd be nice. Some nice sunny spring weather without the advance April showers.

Well, my toddler has once again demonstrated the ability to play back things he has heard that maybe he shouldn't have heard? In any case, he has been strutting about the house singing, "Badonkadonk". I really have to laugh behind my hands at this, because it sounds hysterical, but I live in terror that he will sing it to his nice Bible School teacher at church. He's done this before, repeating my expletive "shootamonkey!". His teacher was quite confused. But with this song, I really am to blame. He's never actually heard the song on the radio (we listen to Christian CD's in the car) or on TV (we don't watch TV--just DVD's), he's just heard his Momma get stuck on that song. Well, maybe his teacher won't have heard the song, and maybe she won't know what a badonkadonk is [hopeful].

I have no voice today. I went jogging on Thursday at the park. While I was plugging away, they decided to mow the lawn, and blew grass, dust, pollen, and who-knows-what-else right into my lungs. By Friday morning, my voice was weakening, and by the time today came around, I had nothing. It was not as nice of a service for me today. I always get the most out of the singing and music, but today, I couldn't even force out the alto notes (I'm usually a soprano). Music has always lifted me up and carried me away. With praise music, it makes me feel even closer to my Master. But not today. I didn't even want to go. However, God sent me something else. He sent 3 young men from Heritage Christian University to speak during classtime. The second one was my favorite. He was a young man from India who felt called to work in the missions field in his homeland where Christianity is a very tiny minority. He had left his wife and small child to come to America and go to school to be a missionary. It was really a good speech, and it made me forget my petty voice problem for awhile. : )

Now, I'm tired. Talking today was so much of an effort, because I had to really force my voice to put the tiniest sound out. I couldn't go jog/walk today anyway, because it was cold/raining, but I don't think I'd've had the air to do it anyway. I feel like I've had a cardio workout! Say--do you figure I burned a bunch of extra calories today? That'd be nice. : D But I'm waiting for my Daniel to get home. He went to an Area-wide devo with the youth group. He called at 9:30pm to tell me that he was an hour from home. So, I'm trying hard to stay awake until he gets home.

Keep Momma in your prayers. She's in Dallas, Texas with my dad--he has some kind of work convention there. I just heard from her a couple of hours ago. They just got into their hotel room. She said they had really bad weather on the way down.

Also, one of Malachi's daycare teachers (my favorite one) needs lots of prayers. She fell on Friday, and broke her neck. She was in the ICU in Huntsville Friday night. I'll try to get more details tomorrow when the daycare is open. She's only in her early 20's, and she has no health insurance. Pray hard, y'all!

Well, I had a good start on a decent length post, but something happened, and I lost it all before I could finish it. Maybe tomorrow. I'm too tired now . . .

What a night I had last night!

To start with, I was trying desperately to get everyone into the shower/bath and get ready for church services. I had just sat down to do my make-up, when I hear CRASH! Great. I told Madeline (who was in the bathroom) to unlock the door. She said, "I can't. There's glass everywhere!" So we do the breaking and entering thing (with the aid of a coathanger--LOL) and find the full-length mirror that is usually mounted on the linen closet door (that I use every day to do my hair) smashed on the floor. Great. Most of the pieces are still in the frame--there were just slivers on the floor. Daniel is already dressed, so I ask him if he minds running the wet Swifter over the bathroom floor to pick up the remaining slivers. Okay. So, I go get Madeline's clothes (a really cute little outfit--khaki crops with embroidery and a complimenting pink polo shirt) and let her dress in my room. When I come back, Daniel is finished. I forgot that I had been doing my make-up. I dragged a bedroom mirror from my room into the bathroom to do my hair. I go to sit down (mirror isn't tall enough to stand and do my hair like I usually do), and firmly embed a nice size sliver of glass in my foot. I hollered in pain and disgust, bringing my youngest two in to gawk and ooh and aah over the blood in horrified fascination. AAAGH! "OUT." I firmly told them. Our bathroom isn't big enough for 4 people at once. I'm finally getting the glass out, but I have to wear a band-aid, because naturally, it won't stop bleeding. I hear Madeline say, "Oh, great." What now? Apparently, she knocked over a full bag of Cheetos everywhere. I told her just go ahead and pick them up as I'm trying to fix my hair. Then she moans. "Momma, you're gonna be so mad . . ." What else? She comes in, and evidently, after picking up the Cheetos, she wiped her hands on her beautiful khaki crops. To make matters worse, she had taken a baby wipe and tried to clean it, smearing it all. I'm shrieking inside now, at the end of my rope. Okay, Madeline, there is a pair of jeans on my dresser that I just washed. Go put them on. By this time, it's 6:25pm, and church starts at 6:30pm. Of course, I never go anywhere without my make-up, so I dash some lipstick and mascara (all I had time for), and throw the kids in the car to go to church. I'm very glad that they didn't sing, "Count Your Many Blessings", because even though that's what I desperately needed to do, I wasn't there yet.

In any case, we got through it. Today, I did 7.5 miles. Walked 4.25 miles, and jogged 3.25 miles. If de-stressing me takes more than that, I may die . . .
: D

Hope you all are having a nice calm day! : )

Another long day. I was training the same girl today. And had two girls burst into tears on me today. But it wasn't me--it was my officers. What a day. I sure hope I can go walk/jogging tomorrow and Thursday.

My Chief told me yesterday, that he heard a rumor that my supervisor will be leaving the PD, and if that's true, I WILL be the next supervisor (emphasis his). Well, I'm not sure quite how that is supposed to make me feel. LOL. This is the second time that I have had the supervisor position somewhat offered to me while the supervisor is STILL IN POSITION. Whacked. All of them, whacked. I'm just praying over all of it . . . The dispatchers start our new schedule next week. My supervisor is very hostile to me right now, because she feels that she has to work 12 hour shifts because I was being unreasonable about working nights and hiring a stranger to keep my babies. So, keep me in your prayers that I will do my best work that she will have trouble finding fault with, and that I will stay in favor with the bigger bosses.

Hope you all are having a good week! : )

I. Am. Tired.

I woke up this morning because the light was on in the living room, so I was certain that my husband had already turned off the alarm, told me it was time to get up and gone to make coffee (which meant that I would be running late). I sat bolt right up in bed and looked at the clock. 4am. I staggered into the living room where my husband snored and Harry Potter danced on in the TriWizard Ball. I asked him what on earth he was doing in there? He had fallen asleep in the Lazy Boy with all the lights on (I can't ever do that) and the movie playing in a continuous loop. And here I was for better or worse, up at 4am. ICK. But I guess it gave me extra time with my husband, so for that I'm thankful.

I didn't have to train two girls after all. My supervisor had forgotten to tell me that she had told one trainee to take the day off. So I sat worrying about that trainee, but not wanting to call and wake her up in case she had already called in to my supervisor. But God evidently caused that trainee to call me and let me know that the supervisor had told her not to come in, so I wouldn't have to worry. And LOL--the other girl I trained told me that she had been interviewed for a county dispatch position this morning. What a crazy world I work in. : D But I sat back, and sat on my hands all day to try to let this girl do her thing. She's supposed to fly solo on Friday night, so I had to sit back and try to let her do things on her own. Soooooooooo hard for me! I was longing to jump in and take over, because I knew just what to do and when to do it, and she's not as quick yet. And I'm by nature a Type A personality/perfectionist--so we know my way is the BEST way (LOL). But we both made it, I think. Then, all this bad weather came in. EMA was delivering updates every 15 minutes or so. At 6:00pm, the tornado was coming, but I had to get OUT of there. I had been there for 12 hours and up for 14, and I was plain old-fashioned TIRED. So, I beat the tornado home. I just heard from my Momma who said the tornado was in my sister's area now, and my sister and niece were stuck in the dance studio--LOL. Well, I guess there could be worse places. As for me, I just wanted to be HOME. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

In any case, now that I've written a novel, I'm braindead and tired. Hope you all have a safe night.
: )

Well, it's another busy Sunday. Had church this morning, then 4 of us went to eat lunch while Daniel had SELTC drama practice this afternoon. Now, I'm trying to get a load of clothes in while willing my lunch to digest quickly so I can squeeze a jog/shower in before the V.B.S. meeting at 4:30pm this afternoon. Then church--it's our turn to do Kids For Christ tonight--dinner, and bed (I have to get up at 4:30am in the morning). Wow. And it's my day off!

I get so caught up reading everyone else's blogs and the message board I frequent, that I forget my own.

I triumphed yesterday! I was so excited. I jogged 2 miles and walked 4 miles with Daniel. And I lost another inch off my waist. Maybe I can do this . . .

We had a really neat morning at church. We installed (that sounds so mechanical, but John assures me that's the word I'm looking for) 15 new deacons in church this morning. How exciting! And praise God, we have a new youth minister who should be joining us in a couple of weeks. All this and a new building we're getting ready to move into--it's rather exhilarating! Two of those deacons were a father and son. I couldn't help but give that momma an extra good hug, because I know she must be so pleased. How wonderful to have both your husband and son honored at the same time like that. At the end of the service, the congregation surged forward to greet/hug our new deacons. Naturally, yours truly was going against the tide. I came across our very own Princess who assured me that she was "one-arming it". You go, girl! I know that's outside your comfort zone. But so far, it's been a really neat day. Guess I better get my bee-hiney busy! Have a super great day! :)

It's a GLORIOUS day here in the Heart of Dixie!!! I went to the park today to do my walk/jog, and you couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. Warm outside with a nice cool breeze. There was a girls softball tournament going on, and a whole school of kids came and flew kites! There was so much to watch! Malachi just LOVED it!
It was so funny, I was cruising along, and you know it's good manners to greet people as you pass them. So, of course I passed a lady and she said, "Hello! How are you?" to which I replied, "I'm good, thanks, and you?" She said she was fine. Then, I hear this little high pitched voice come out of Malachi's stroller, "Hi! And how are YOU? Fine, thank YOU!" I got to giggling so hard and told Malachi, "You're so funny!" to which he replied, "No, YOU'RE funny!" and we both giggled.
I walked 4 miles, jogged 2miles! I think the jogging ones are finally getting a little easier. I don't feel like I'm gonna fall out, anyway. ; )

Caution: This is a long post. You don't have to read it if you don't want to.

Well, God has taken care of me after all. I had a job dilemma you see . . .

I have been at Police Department for over a year. Not a terribly long time, but I've been there longer than any dispatcher that is currently there. When my previous supervisor left, the dispatch supervisor position came open. Chief had anyone who wanted it to apply. The Chief told us in the interview that there would be no raise in pay for the supervisor. Not fair, I thought, but I applied. I applied since I had seniority, management experience, and more dispatch classes under my belt than any of the others. I felt I was the best qualified. However, the Chief gave the position to a girl I trained. My feelings were hurt, but I supported my new supervisor in every way I could. Next, the mayor decided that we should all go on 8 hour shifts instead of 12 hour ones. Because they had discovered that they were supposed to be paying us overtime for those 4 hours in two weeks that we worked over 80. Okay. Chief and my supervisor told me that I would be working 6am to 2pm, Monday through Friday. Yay! I was excited. I'd get to be home when my kids got home, and Malachi wouldn't have to stay at daycare so long. Well, next thing you know, my supervisor calls me and tells me she's working on the schedule. Do I want 2nd shift or 3rd? I was stunned. I asked her was 1st shift not an option like she told me? She said no--that Chief wanted her on 1st shift since she was supervisor, and had to talk to people during business hours. (if she worked 2-10pm, she was still there during business hours.) I told her that there was no way I could work anything but 1st shift, because my husband already works nights. Who would be home with my kids? She said ok and hung up. The next time I talked to her, she said there was no way we would be able to do 8 hour shifts (read: I can't have my way, I'm taking my ball and going home). I talked to Chief later, and he assured me that we were going to 8's. Next, I got home from taking Madeline to Southern Starlets, and my supervisor called me at home and harassed me for close to an hour, trying to push me into 2nd or 3rd shift. She told me, "There are things called babysitters!" I told her that I didn't know any babysitters that could stay overnight 5 days a week, I refuse to leave my babies with strangers, and by the time I paid a babysitter to do that, I might as well be a stay at home momma for all the money I would make out of the deal! She told me that I was making everyone else pay for my having kids! Can you imagine? I had kids when they hired me! She told me that I just needed to get out in the REAL WORLD to see if anyone else would work around my schedule. I told her that in the real world, seniority was more than just a word whispered. She told me that she deserved this shift, because she got no raise with the supervisor position, and she should be making more than me (like that's my fault!). We went around and around, but I finally just kept repeating--I am not able to work anything but 1st shift. I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a bunch of trouble, but I Can. Not. Do. It. Period. She finally went away, and I didn't sleep. I kept trying to give it to God, but then would worry over it some more. This was not a good time for me to lose my job. We aren't yet caught up on bills that we incurred while John was out of a job. In any case, she called me up the other day offering 1st shift Wednesday through Sunday. I was really kind of ill at this, because this meant that I would never get to go to church with my family. At all. I countered with "How about Tuesday through Saturday?" This seemed fair to me as it gave us both a weekend day off. She haughtily told me that no, she would NOT be working weekends. I asked her couldn't we trade off weekends? Absolutely not. I told her, that it was very important that I go to church with my family, I had seniority, and this did not seem right at all. She said fine, she would tell Chief--and hung up.

This morning, I got the first good news I'd had in awhile. Chief called me into his office. I asked him if I was in trouble. He said, "No--do you want to be?" I very emphatically replied, "NO! I have enough on my plate right now, thanks." He then proceeded to tell me that I would be working Thursday through Saturday 12 hour shifts with a 4 hour admin. day on Wednesdays. I told him that I could live with that. I didn't say it, but I still think I should get the 6-2 M-F that I was told I would work, but I guess this is much better than the other offers.

That's my saga. I'm so tired of drama. All I want to do is do my job and go home to play with my kids.

Not much to report today. Kind of slow. About all I did all day was tell the inmate in cell 4 that YES, I would tell the officer when he came in that the inmate in cell 4 wanted to use the phone! And watch "The Notebook" and cry. ; ) Such a sadsweet movie. Book was even better. But now, my weekend is over, and I'm off for the next two days--WHOO HOO! I hope it doesn't rain. I'm supposed to meet my Momma at 10am to go walking.

Madeline spent the night with Lyssa Laine (my niece) at Nanapappaw's house. Momma said they all had a ball. They made peanut brittle Saturday night, and pecan waffles Sunday morning. They got to take a bath in Nana's deep clawfoot tub, with bubbles and made bubble Santa Claus beards. (LOL) Doesn't that just sound like the bomb? How cool is that? Then they went to Heritage Place Church of Christ Sunday morning and got to see Mr. Wayne (Kilpatrick). Wish I could have gone. : )

Calling all prayer warriors--my sister Daisy's friend is not doing well. Momma's brought her up for prayers in Wednesday night class. She had cancer, and had to have a complete hysterectomy. And she's rather young. To add to the complications, she has now gotten an infection. So, she's in a lot of pain and feeling a little down. If you've ever been in pain for awhile, you know how wearing that can be. So add her to your prayer list, y'all. : ) TIA!

Hi
Is it a full moon? I had a much nicer day today. Everything is still rather uncertain, but my supervisor wasn't there today and neither was her husband. So, I didn't feel like I was walking on eggshells. But I got all kinds of weird calls.

The one that takes the cake was this couple that came in. They told me that a beagle had been hit and was lying dead on the side of the road. Well, both of my officers were busy with rather urgent calls when the people came in and told us. Okay. A little while later, the man came back and told me, "Well, since you negelected to do anything about the dead dog, we put it in a bag, and put it on your front porch." (What do you say to that? I said, "Oh.") Then, on his way out, he looked scornfully at my trustees (which I have talked about in previous posts), and asked, "So, have you learned your lesson yet?" Wow. I was so appalled, I just sat there with my mouth gathering flies. The man left. Can you believe that? I don't know what I was more shocked at--the dead dog on my porch or his attitude so vocally against my trustees. But you know what? How sad it is that obviously that man had enough anger in him to try and spread his bitterness around. That man couldn't possibly be a happy man with that much bitterness spilling out. So, I reckon he needs my prayers. Have you ever been that angry all (or most) of the time to where nothing but yucky stuff spills out? I know I have. And it still happens to me sometimes. It's not a happy place to be at all. Joy and bitterness don't co-exist very well together. So, as mean as that man was to my trustees (who did nothing but gape at him), he really is to be pitied. And I know from hard experience, that God always levels the playground. Every time I have dared to become arrogant, God has pruned me.

Wow--I'm getting deep, aren't I? It was a very strange day. But that was my lesson today.

Well, now that blog prayer day is over, I need prayers. I'm a little bit stressed. Without going into too many details, I've been pressed into taking a stand at work that could at least put me in a hostile working environment, and at worst, lose me my job. I know that God can take this and somehow miraculously turn this around for me. But right now, I'm trusting in the heart of God, because I can't see the hand of God. Please pray for my work situation.

Thought for the Day: "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others will bask in it themselves."