I mentioned that I have almost 8 grandchildren now. Well, they range in age from the 14 year old who is a candidate for acne treatments to the nearly-born son of my oldest son.

The 14 year old is a musician. I mean a real musician. He plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and violin/fiddle. While he does play in the school orchestra, he also plays in the string quartet, at a local bluegrass get-together on Saturday nights and is a member of the local fiddlers’ association. He seems to be able to pick up and play any stringed instrument almost by instinct. He has had private lessons, which gave him the mechanics and form. But now he is playing from the heart and for the sheer joy of it, which makes the music so much better.

His parents don’t have to prod him into practicing or learning new songs. In fact, they have to rein him in a bit or this is all he would do. He continually searches the internet for new instruments and new sheet music. I think he’s going to go places with this gift and talent.

Technorati Tags: musician, orchestra, bluegrass

Posted: May 14th, 2008 under Flights of fancy.
Comments: none

I was delighted at work last night when my oldest son and his family showed up where I work. I was also fortunate that I was able to take my break right then and join them for supper at McDonald’s. I don’t get to see them nearly often enough. I didn’t give big kisses all around because I’m sick and didn’t want to spread it to them, but it sure was hard to resist!

Son’s wife is due to have a baby in about two weeks. It’s a boy and they are naming him Devon, which I think is a handsome name. They already have other children including a two year old named Kurstian (pronounced “Kirsten), so their life and home are all about baby cribs and diapers right now. It’s fun to watch a young, growing family interact, don’t you think?

Son is a patient but firm father with his children and they listen to him without being fearful of him. I think that speaks well of his parenting skills.

By the way, this will make grandchild #8 for me!

Technorati Tags: McDonald’s, baby, children

Posted: May 14th, 2008 under Uncategorized, Flights of fancy.
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I don’t get sick very often, but I’ve caught something that has really knocked the wind right out of me. All over body aches, stuffy head, coughing, runny nose, terrible headache…I’m sick for sure. This is something that’s going around locally and I sure was hoping it would miss me.

I can’t take off work. I can’t afford to. Besides, the way the schedule is, there isn’t another manager that can cover my shifts. We could use one more manager, even a part-time one, to help fill in the gaps when things like this happen. I think I’m going to suggest that to my supervisor and see what she thinks. In the meantime, when any of us gets sick, we just have to tough it out at work.

Well, I suppose all I can do until it’s time to head to work is just rest and try to get over this as much as possible. Maybe I’ll feel better this afternoon.

Technorati Tags: sick, work, manager

Posted: May 13th, 2008 under Flights of fancy, Work.
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Younger Daughter is planning a trip to New York to see her boyfriend’s cousin graduate from West Point. They’ll be up there almost a week after the ceremony. Daughter plans to see some things she may never get to see again. She wants to see a show. She wants to visit Ground Zero and the Statue of Liberty. She wants to ride the subway and visit Central Park. All the things she’s only seen on television will be right in front of her. I hope she has plenty of energy to do all that!

I’m sure she knows that New York City is huge, but I’m not sure she fully realizes just how huge it is. She’ll be staying in a house with Boyfriend’s relatives, so she’s saving anything she would have had to pay for hotels. She’s been doing some shopping, too, to have just the right things to wear while in NYC. I think she may already have some of her Briggs and Riley bags packed, she so excited about going!

She plans to take disposable cameras with her, then get them all developed when she gets home again. She’ll fly up and back, but her boyfriend and the cousin will drive back, taking their time and doing some sightseeing in places Boyfriend has never been before.

This trip will do them all good, and I think they’ll learn a lot from it. Mostly, they’ll have years of memories from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see things and meet people.

Technorati Tags: New York, West Point, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, New York City

Posted: May 12th, 2008 under Flights of fancy, Shopping.
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As I said in my previous post, I was transferred. I actually requested this transfer. The other job location was just too stressful and my blood pressure couldn’t be brought down to normal levels while working there. Primarily, this was because the old location has a drive-thru. Now I know what you’re thinking. What’s so bad about that?

Quick serve restaurants with drive-thrus are a nightmare for those who work there. The people driving by to get food never see how many customers are in the lobby waiting for food, and vice versa. This means that only those who work in the restaurant understand just how many orders are being placed at one time. And we still have to get all the food to the customers’ hands in under three minutes. So, if there are 30 people ordering at the counter and another dozen or more at the drive-thru, they all expect the quick service at the same time.

It got to where I would see Chevy grills in my dreams, I’ve worked the drive-thru so much and at such a rapid pace! lol Now that I’m working at a store that has no drive-thru, I can actually work at a more natural pace and still get people their food within the time limits the corporation has set up for us. I am not exhausted after I get off work anymore, either, which is a big issue for me.

Technorati Tags: job, restaurants

Posted: May 4th, 2008 under Work.
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My transfer to the new store is complete and I’m working there all the time now. No. I mean All. The. Time. I get called in on my days off, but what else is new? It’s been that way at work for some time now. At least I get good paychecks, but sometimes I do need a day off.

My friend asked me if I was getting days off soon and wondered if all I do is work? Um. It sure seems like it’s all I do!

I think I’m scheduled off in a day or two. We’ll see if that works or if I get called in anyway.

The really big news is that we’ll be moving into a rent house soon. It belongs to my older daughter. It’s three bedroom, two bath, two story and is designed like a lodge inside. I love it and since I’m already familiar with it, I’m comfortable moving in. The location will make my commute longer but it’s peaceful there so it’s worth it.

Technorati Tags: paychecks, work, house

Posted: May 4th, 2008 under Work.
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