I Am Just Not That Nice

I try to be courteous and pleasant to all my customers and make a tedious, boring trip to a government agency a bit more enjoyable. But sometimes I am just not feeling it, like today.  I knew this woman was going to be trying when she flopped her gigantor purse on my counter, along with a clear plastic container of papers and documents.  As I talked to her and was going through her papers I was becoming more and more irritated.  She was whiney and weepy.  

I realized that I was going to have spend quite a bit of time with her and do a LOT of explaining.  As I was copying some of her documents and standing at the copier silently bitching to myself about why couldn't she have gone to one of my coworkers, it hit me that I needed to suck it up.  I walked back to her with a new attitude, well, I faked a new attitude until I didn't have to fake it anymore.  It was a crisis situation to her and she needed help.

I took it very slowly and told her we were going to break it down and deal with one thing at a time.  I put sticky notes with instructions on her papers and made little packets of each different thing that needed to be done.  During this time she was in and out of weepy and whiney. This combo does not endear me to anyone, but I gritted my teeth and said a few sympathetic words and would get her back on track.   During this time the lineup of customers behind her was growing.  The man next in line appeared interested in what we were doing, but fortunately did not look irritated or impatient.

So we finally got to the end and I asked if she had any questions and did it make sense to her.  She said it was all clear and thanked me for being kind and helping her.  We said our goodbyes and I wished  her well.  Whew!

I smiled at the man that was waiting and asked how could I help him.  He said "You were very nice to that woman and you just made a difference in someone's life"  If he only knew how I felt when I first started helping her or how annoyed I was from time to time.  I felt like I really didn't deserve such a compliment.

But perhaps the lesson is that it doesn't matter how I felt. I gave compassion, kindness and time to someone having a hard time.  Who am I to judge whether or not her reactions and feelings are appropriate.

A little kindness goes a long ways and costs us nothing and you never know it might just make someone's day a little brighter.

The Date

Meet and Greet.  Gary.  I have had some fun online conversations with this guy.  We met after work yesterday at Boulevard Park.  Nice safe place to meet someone.  Now, this guy I really liked.  His picture did not do him justice.  He did have a beard, which normally I hate.  His was neatly trimmed and suited him.  I was having a GREAT hair moment when I left the house.  Unfortunately, it was only a moment. My hair and humidity do not mix.  I looked at myself in the mirror when I got home and it was hideous. What the.......!  

Anyway, we had great conversation, laughs....mostly.  There were brief periods where I felt I didn't really have him engaged and others where I thought he found me brilliant.  He alluded to doing activities together in the near future.  BUT when we parted I got a short sort of side hug (embarrassing when you are going for real deal) and he didn't ask for my phone number.  He did say he would message me info about a function we are both attending tomorrow, he is working and I am just going.  We just happened to find out we would both be there.  

He messaged me with the info, but nothing about how nice to meet me, can't wait to see you again, you are AMAZING.  You know, stuff I would like to hear.  

I will see him tomorrow.  Let's see what kind of reception I get.

Toxic

When I was a kid and living in southern Florida in the 60's they had these trucks that would drive slowly through the neighborhoods. They had big tanks contraptions on the back and emitted these huge clouds of white smoke. Apparently, it was something to kill the mosquitoes. An alarm of kids screaming and running for their houses would alert the adults it was coming. Everybody tried to get their windows closed before it got to their house. It smelled like.....well, poison. And it was. I sometimes wonder what mutant cell is lurking in my body and will someday rear its ugly head as some sort of cancer. My aunt, who was the same age as me, died is her 40's from cancer and my uncle died at 59. They believe it was environmental. I remember a little girl that lived across the street during that time and she had cancer. I wonder now if she was a victim of that deadly fog that would roll through in the early summer evenings. 

I am happy I never liked the taste of artificial sweetners so I never embraced the diet sodas and other products that so many others did. Now we are finding out just how deadly that can be for you. You aren't even safe growing your own vegetables from seed because even they are genetically modified. 

Fortunately we moved from Florida to a small town in New Mexico when I was 8 and even though we visited Florida every year on vacation I wasn't exposed to that toxic fog like my aunt was. We bought our beef from a local rancher and it was grass fed and no hormones like stuff today. Can we reverse this toxic buildup in our bodies?

Galumpki

My grandma used to make galumpki when I was a kid.  I have been searching for a recipe that tastes like hers, well as least as best as I can remember.  I have tried a couple recipes and the first one I tried was just not it!  The second one much better, but I made some changes with a few nontraditional tweaks.

Filling
1 cup cooked rice
1 pounds uncooked ground beef
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/3-1/2 cup milk
MIX TOGETHER

Sauce
1 can crushed tomatoes
3/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tsp shiracha-or to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Cabbage
Dischard tough outer leaves and trim bottom
submerge whole head of cabbage in boiling water and peel off leaves as they cook, become soft  and pull off easily
With a sharp knife trim the the center rib even with leaf, so it is not so thick

Assembly
The amount of filling you put on each leaf with vary with the size of the leaf.  Put filling at large stem end of leaf and roll up like a burrito, tucking in edges.
Put seam side down in a baking pan.
Mix together sauce ingredients and pour over cabbage rolls.
Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Cover with foil

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40-45 minutes

Adventures in Dating

Dating at age 59 is not easy.  Seems like most men my age are looking for, and dating, women in their 30's and 40's.  Geez, what chance do I have. The only place for people my age to really meet single people of the opposite sex is online dating sites. Kind of like catalog shopping.  I have ruled out anyone that doesn't live within 20 miles of me.  Even though Canadian is just a few miles away, the whole border crossing thing is a pain in the arse.  

 I recently had a couple dates with a very sweet man, who was actually a few years younger than me.  On the first date I was very hopeful.  It was pleasant, although I carried and directed the conversational ball.  Other than sitting there and smiling he really didn't have much to say or talk about.  Except his gardens.  Period.  High on his plus points was the fact that he seemed to think I was great.  

I highly suspect he hadn't had a date since his wife died 10 years ago.  He had no idea what to do.  We went to a movie the second date.  I was terrified he would try to hold my hand, so I kept my Coke in my hand closest to him.  I was terrified he would try and hold my hand.  I haven't been that nervous since 6th grade when my first love took me to the movies for the first time.   He did suggest dinner after the movie, but I made a lame excuse that I had eaten just before the movie and wasn't hungry.  Bad, huh?

One of the guys I had a few online conversations with actually came into work last week.  I didn't realize it was him until just as he was leaving and he made some comments about what he did for a living and I saw his name on a document.  He looked completely different than his pictures.  Actually better.  I had never told him where I worked so it was a complete coincidence.  I am not sure if he knew who I was.  I suspect he recognized me, but did not know where he had seen me before.  Or, maybe it dawned on him at the end of our interaction like it did me.  Haven't heard from him, so guess he wasn't impressed.

I don't know how some women are able to date and/or marry a man they don't love just so they have a partner or for companionship or money.  When someone doesn't float my boat I can in no one pretend or hide my true feelings from them.  

The reason I am single is becoming increasingly clear, but I will continue until I overcome my terror of a date.

My Favorite Photos

Ft Casey Washington

Edison Washington

Samish Island Washington

Chuckanut Drive Washington

Road to City of Rocks New Mexico

Manners

I took this picture at the rodeo Saturday night.  The object in the lower right hand corner is my shoulder.  These kids had their feet against the back of my seat and keep them moving, bouncing me around.  Their mother's feet were on the other side of me.  At one point I turned around and told them to keep their feet still and they just stared at me and continued to do it.  Their mother did finally tell them to stop it.  But why can't you just put your feet on the floor where they belong?  Then a young couple sat down close by and both were snapping and popping their gum as loud as they could, trying to outdo each other.

I am so sick of  people propping their feet up the seats in front of them in public places.  Happens at the movies all the time.  Speaking of the movies......fine bring your own snacks, they are expensive, but don't proceed to have to open all the noisey packaging during the movie and then every time you stick your big fat paw in the bag it starts all over again.  Oh, and you are not in your living room, so don't appreciate your full volume commentary all during the movie either.

Cell phones, really people.  At work today a customer came up to me and put his paperwork on the counter just as his phone was ringing.  He answered it of course and proceeded to have a lengthy loud conversation.  I got started on his transaction, but came to a part where I had to ask him a question, so I did.  He had the nerve to put his hand up to me to be quiet.  Lucky he still has that hand.  So I walked away and did not come back until he had been off the phone for a minute.  He proceeded to try and tell me how the call was about his car insurance.  I didn't acknowledge what he was saying at all and just asked him what I needed to know to complete his transaction.  

Yep, I am a bit bitchy today!