365 + 3

Wednesday December 1st

Grace in Small Things - Extended version

1) My bro called me from NYC saying he was getting ready to go meet Anne Rice and have her sign her latest book did I want him to have her sign anything for me? Well heck yea! I hope she signed a paperback of "Interview with the Vampire". My all time favorite novel of hers is/was The Mummy and when I she was at a book signing about a hundred years ago at Jo-Beth I asked her when she was going to publish a sequel. She stated that she was working on it. 20 years later.......come on, where is it? I asked my bro to ask her about it. I want answers (and an autograph to add to my collection of her autographed books).

2) Got behind that school bus that picks up the kids that live about 1/4 mile or off the road. One mother drives her kids to the stop, the other walks them up. This time, she ran them up. The little girl made a great run. Took her several minutes to make it. It was cute. I am reminded of the ride each morning when we car pooled to Lex Cath. Every day down US 60. To this day I imagine I can drive that road blindfolded I know it so well. As we approached the airport, there was a farm that every morning, and I mean every single morning, that mother would race the car from the house on the summit, down the hill, down the stretch to meet the bus, who was waiting, at the entrance to the farm. I always wondered if one day the bus driver would grow tired of this game and take off! He never did. He always slowed down and took his time before throwing out the stop sign to wait for her.

3) We received gift cards at the Bucket! I used mine immediately on Christmas tree ornaments and a birthday card.

4) Had to call my mortgage company about our escrow account and if it ever was going to be a lower payment. He was kind of mean, kept reading the screen instead of answering my questions. But, I remembered the words from the Dale Carnegie CD I am listening to at the moment (b/c I still spend a lot of time driving from here to there)and realizing you get no where and no help when you loose your cool. As much as I wanted to scream at him (and I once screamed at an insurance guy over the phone and felt so bad afterwards) but instead I calmed myself down and explained, "Look, what I am trying to get at is that I do not want to have $6,000 sitting in my escrow at the end of the year. Please tell me how to avoid this." and he did! Or rather he reassured me that the over payments (his voice implied that he knew better than me there would be none - according to the formula he was looking at) would be refunded to me or applied to my principal, which ever I wanted. When I got off the phone I was so hot, I knew my face was beet red, but I did keep my cool and found out that Feb 1st my mortgage payment should straighten out.

5) We changed the music on the MUSAK box to reflect that the holiday season is upon us. I flipped on something called, "Holiday Pop" and immediately we received calls about it. I flipped on, what I thought was Classic Holiday music, but in reality it was Holiday Classical (lol). I was grooving in my office listening to Nutcracker and the such when we began receiving calls "Boring music" "too High Class for THIS mall..." etc. etc. etc. For some reason, it made me laugh. I was told to back away form the box - I am hearing Mariah Carey sing "All I want for Christmas" about 100 times a day. I'm thinking of switching to Country Christmas for the week-end? Do you all think I should?

365 + 2

Grace in Small Things
Tuesday Nov. 30th

1) Found a dollar lying on the floor!

2) Discovered the Goodwill auction site. Oh mama.

3) The Zenyatta Breyer Race ornament became unavailable at the on-line store I used (sold out or did not receive their shipment, I was unclear as to why) so I called the Horse park and they are going to ship me one. Alright.

4) Scrooged was on TV last night with Bill Murray. I love that movie and repeat some of the lines all the time...."Back off Big Boy, might work with the chicks but not me.."

5) When I arrived home from work I was greeted with a package. A package from Nikon! My lens! I slapped it on the camera discarding the poor substitute that I have been crying about for months, and snapped some pics of the cats right away! Yay Rah! I'm back!

November 29th

What the Hell

I truly enjoyed doing the Grace in Small Things and even as I laid in bed last night, thumbing through a Time magazine (reading the article on Womenomics - fascinating) I picked up my moleskine and jotted down the main Highlights of the day. In other words, it ain't so easy to stop! And maybe that is a good thing.

365/365 +1

1) Finished Grace in Small Things

2) Left work early, like a little after 3pm, to wait for the delivery guy with the big screen TV. He never showed up and when Joe finally got home he picked up the phone and gave me the news "It's dead." Crap!! But the good thing is that the truck was broken down behind hh Gregg and we had to reschedule anyway.

3) I have this insane compulsion to win those seven Breyer Race Horse ornaments even though I found the box of my seven race horse ornaments. I do not have Affirmed and Gallant Fox, and if Secretariat is going for $58 on e-bay, buying the lot I could probably make my money back and have Affirmed and Gallant Fox. But.the computer connection was going in and out. Damn storm. As I was frantically hitting the Bid button over and over I did not get it in on time. Lucky thing, really & truly. I was up there in the bidding, boy.

4) Found a bag of frozen shrimp in the back of the freezer. Man I need to go shopping.

5) It's cyber Monday! Sold three CD's on Amazon (damn, I wish I had won that lot of 7 Breyer race horse ornaments!)

THIS IS IT!!!!!!!!

One to go
The Last One
365/365 - I can't believe it!
Sunday November 28th!

I did not even realize it until today! For some reason I thought today was the last day. I was wrong! It's was Sunday! So here it is - The very last of my...
GRACE in Small Things


1) Joe found my box of Breyer Thoroughbred Collectible Ornaments! Oh, I love you Joe!

2) Heather Be Thy Name thanked me for all my hard work!

3) Made my Christmas List - yikes! - while on break at the Bucket.

4) Found a box of frozen potato patties hiding in the freezer. Made for an exceptionally good breakfast.

5) Found extra Angel tree ornaments hidden in the store room (lol) (everything is hiding itself from me) and exactly the four that I needed (for me!)

The end.

TWO TO GO

364/365

Grace in Small Things
Saturday November 26th

1) Mayor of the Mall's little girl giving me a hug.
2) Mrs. Long Suffering came in to work a couple of hours and brought along a white chocolate milk shake for me & shared her onion rings!

3) Going to H.H. Gregg and applying for credit (I always hold my breath anymore) and getting it. We are going to have a nice big screen TV to watch all those great UK games (go cats!)!
4) I have almost been hit twice in the past couple of days for these Knuckleheads who do not know or ignore the protocol at a four way stop. It infuriates me let alone getting my heart racing! I am so glad that I have my Dad's training rattling around in my head as I drive "Watch out for those crazy Southern Drivers". Oh, that was me! But he did teach me to be very cautious and when I see something that does not feel exactly right, I just let them go and grit my teeth.

5) And I found that it's just as easy to be nice as it is to be crappy about/to someone. And I found out that you can learn a thing or two from someone that you assumed could not teach you anything!

6) extra credit - these little notebooks that I have mentioned time and time again. I carry them in my apron at the Bucket and when I have a moment I ask myself "What made today wonderful?"

THREE to Go

363/365
Friday November 26th
Grace in Small Things

1) It snowed last night or this morning. My windshield wipers were stuck in the "I did not turn them off last night" position that Joe hates and keeps telling me that I am going to burn up the little wiper motor. But all was good, got the icy thickness off before the motor burnt up.
2) Thank God for rubber pan cake flippers. All year long I have moved around the ice scrapers from here to there but when you need one they are no where to be found. A thick rubber pan cake flipper works great. That spray works better but did not have that either.
3) Began making my move on E-bay to replace my lost Breyer race horse ornaments. Man!! They are extremely high on Amazon! Jimminee. I have my eye on a lot of seven, might be the entire collection put out by Breyer so far. Having my eyes open on Amazon at just how collectible these babies are I am rethinking the Zenyatta order. Maybe I should order several of them?
4) By some crazy fluke, I made the monthly sales goal on Stella & Dot.
5) $10 gift card from Biscuit Bucket. I could have had a $100 one but I am too unconcerned at collecting stars on my apron. But dang it, $100 would have been nice. As accommodating as Heather Be Thy Name has been to me in the past months I bet I just could sashay my way to that 4 star apron.

FOUR

Thanksgiving Day
Grace in Small Things
362/365

1) Kroger discount Card -10 cents off gas
2) Thank God for direct deposit!
3) First Christmas lights!
4) Seeing Bridget - first time since August!!
5) Mom home from hospital. They believe she had an allergic reaction to a new medication she was taking. Very scary! Rethinking her living alone.

Wednesday

Five to Go
361/365
Grace in Small Things

1) Mom snapped out of it and was her regular self in the morning after a nights rest.
2) We all had a great time reiterating her remarks, comments and answers to questions the previously day. She laughed loudest of all.
3) Thank God for that coffee cart in the front lobby of the Hospital
4) The MRI showed no stroke
5) Taking a quick shopping rip around Lex and hitting Jo-Beth, Keenlenad Gift Shop and the Lexington Center looking for Breyer Horse Ornaments.

Black Tuesday

Six to Go
360/365
Grace in Small Things
Tuesday Nov. 23

1) I thank God that I had worked week-end manager and that I was off Tuesday, at home, when the phone rang and it was my sister informing me that Mom was in the hospital, that they had found her on her bedroom floor, apparently she had been there all night. "Is she alive" I asked, "Yes". She was going to call me from the hospital when she arrived. She was heading there from Louisville. I paced around the house for several moments, in shock. I called Joe and threw enough underwear to survive a hurricane (lol - inside joke) and hit the road.
2) I am thankful that the staff at the Mall and Heather Be Thy Name told me to just not worry about work and go be with my Mom.
3) Entering the heart of the Bluegrass and seeing the Thoroughbred horses in the fields decked out in their warm blanket coats.
4) Thank God that I had peppermint candy kisses and a can of pistachio nuts in the car (hiding the candy from Joe) so I did not have to stop on the long 3 1/2 hour drive to the hospital in Lex.
5) St. Joe is a Catholic hospital and my sis ran into Fr. Dan in the ER and he came and gave Mom the blessing for the sick and laid hands on her. Powerful powerful. I've seen my Dad's reaction from this blessing. Mom was taken to a room and when she was settled in she seemed to be calmer and more herself. Not entirely herself. We did not know at that point what had happened. A MRI was scheduled to see if she may have had a stroke. But she entertained us with her disassociated sentences. They started out good...."Put your Father's picture....up hummer" (that one cracked me up. When asked what year she was born she told them, "1927" when asked how old she was she smartly told them "33". We were cracking up. We were so relived that she had such a long way from the semiconscious restrained crying frightened woman in the ER to this semi-confused Lady who was talking in tongues

Monday Nov. 22

7 to go

359/365

Grace in Small Things

1) Found the Breyer Christmas tree ornaments on E-bay. They are high - but at least I can replace the box I lost. I can't remember if I sold them at that dern yard sale April '09 or if I just lost/misplaced them in the last move. I did not put up a tree last year (boo-hoo) so I did not truly look for them until a week or so ago. I lost Sea Biscuit, Seattle Slew, War Admiral and others. I had about six Race horses and numerous other ornaments. I'm sick about it. But, there they are on E-bay. And then I found Zenyatta on another web-site! She will be my new one - at retail and not the collector price!
2) Salad in a bag. Enough salad for two day of lunch.
3) The nettie pot. If I have mentioned it before, I need to sing it's praise again. That thing makes you think you're drowning, reminisce of being four years old in the diving area way over your head, but it sure works wonders.
4) In-Style magazine. I had the best time looking through it. Who knew?
5) Doing a little meme about the 15 albums that stick with you. Memories memories. A lot better than water up my nose as a four year old!

8

Grace in Small things
Sunday November 21

1) Made cake pops. They were good, but as a first attempt I will tweak the next batch. No chocolate icing in chocolate cake with a chocolate candy dip. Brings new meaning to Death by Chocolate.
2) Got on the elliptical machine for a 20 minute work out.
3) Got on the Chuck Norris type thing we have that works the upper body with your body giving resistance. Yikes!
4) Bought some new Doctor Scholls inserts that are pretty darn good when coupled with Watkins liniment, ibuprofen (lol - I'm a mess)
5) Decided to make the commitment to loose 25 pounds. In other words, Cake Pops are a thing of the past. As is home made granola. And quite possibly pancakes. While tidying up the garage and desperately searching for the lost camera warranty (which I did not even need!lol) I found my weight watcher mini-books and accessories. I'm thinking I will make the commitment and document it here. If I could do GiST's for a year, I can do anything. Maybe.

CountDown

9
Grace in Small Things

1) A six strand faux pearl bracelet was returned to Biscuit Bucket & marked down 70% which I snapped up and was further reduced with my 20% discount. It has a very cheesy looking clasp-type thing on it, but it's super pretty.
2) Upon recommendation from a co-worker at the Bucket, I tried J.R. Watkins Pain Relieving Liniment. It stinks to high heavens (kind of like that paregoric stuff we use to have rubbed on our gums by our well intentioned but clueless WWII generation parents - that stuff was a high octane narcotic! I must admit, a whiff of the liniment made me nostalgic for a simpler time) yet once applied to the skin evaporates quickly and relief is swift!
3)Hobby Lobby being right across the street from the Mall. Upon entering I realized they do not have any sign to direct you to the area you wish to find. Yet I somehow, instinctively, found the aisle on the first try for the baking supplies. I astound myself at times.
4) I am devastated (again!! will it ever change!!!!!) that Maks was voted off DWTS with his partner Brandy. I will not go into the conspiracy theory nor will I gnash my teeth over the Palin united front, it just is the way things are. What concerns me is that Maksie is drop dead gorgeous, has the sexiest eyes ever!, a killer Russian accent, and that man can dance. As one contestant described it, he can move his body like a flag swaying in the breeze. What concerns me is that now I have to wait another season to see him!! Then, I find (amid all the controversy of being booted while Palin's daughter is being backed by her mothers minions and the girl just can't dance) Maksie has created a blog!!
5) Found one of the National Geographic that my Mom gave me that I retrieved from the garbage when Joe decided to house clean - from 1971. An issue that included an article about Norway, Bermuda, and the Moon. Great reading for a dull Sat. afternoon as MOD.

November 19

Friday
Grace in Small Things
356

Ten To Go

1) Love being Manager on Duty/c I get caught up on my GiST's. As the count down begins on the last of this year long commitment I'm sadden to think it's nearing the end. As much as it aggravates me at times, such as when I open my notebook and realize I have not written a single thing about Tuesday or see only a line or two jotted down for Sunday - as much as it aggravates me, I am going to miss looking for the good or the barely averting disaster on a daily basis. On the other hand, it means my year long absence from blogging is also coming to an end! I am ready to return. Not that I have much left to say or my life has taken a drastic turn and has become interesting - no, I just miss writing.

2) I woke up a trifle before 4am this morning and could not go back to sleep. I got up and washed the "rest of the dishes" (we won't go there) and got on FB. I revisited my cousins pictures he had posted. I ran across one of me, a 14 year old lass of a girl, visiting New York after I graduated from 8th grade. It was a graduation present - three weeks in NYC with my Aunts and Uncles and cousins.

3) When I finally made it home last night (one of those 14 hour days) I caught the first UK basketball game on tv (for me)! They were pretty dern good! Oh boy - the season is upon us.

4) Joe brought home some bar-b-que from a cook out at his work. it was simply fabulous!

5) CD's are buy one get one 1/2 off at the Bucket. Woo hoo. (Amazon side business)

355

11 to go
Grace in Small Things
November 18th - Thursday

1) I finally sent my camera lens to Nikon last week after dragging my feet for months. I made up this list of things I wanted to get done, that I was procrastinating about. I read somewhere that these things are subconsciously dragging you down. The camera was on the list and so - I just did it. And come to find out they emailed me - It's under warranty!! Praise the Lord!
2) Made a new batch of Granola before work.
3) US Bank branch at Walmart - so convenient.
4) Beer at Walmart - so convenient
5) Face book friends from the LBD club - lol!!

354

12 more to go

Grace in Small Things
November 17th Wednesday

1) Little Black Dress Club! Had a blast. Told Joe it was like th Bible Study group I once went to, but with alcohol, "And no scripture" he reminded me.

2) Meeting some dynamic fantastic women in the community. The lady next to me works for the IRS!

3) Another one loves Miami (like me) and we were talking about a Key Lime Martini she once had in Miami and she tried and tried to recreate. The in Nashville she ordered one, just to see what would happen, and by gosh she got THE KEY LIME MARTINI! The bar tended worked at that very Hotel in Miami and had the secret recipe. She is the self proclaimed Martini Queen! This is one fun group.

4) Guess what? Earned commissions on S&D! My first! But I feel sort of like a fraud about splitting the orders on Sunday - I just do not really like my sponsor that much. Maybe I will just brazen out on my own.

5) My new phone is a dream to text on. Bridget and I text ed back and forth all morning!

353 down

13 to go

1) Evite invitations - gotta love them.
2) Got a new phone. A Pantech. I was a Motorola gal until I could no longer get the "Hello Moto" ring (phooey!!) I love this phone. My Razr died then the Blackberry Joe gave me (his cast off) died mysteriously - while in Nashville traffic!
3) Went to the library to return my overdue books and CD's and found a new CD...Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. I took this course a long time ago and in many ways, it was pivotal to who I am now. I loved it. I am going to enjoy listening to this!
4) No working at the Bucket all week! Like a mini vaca.
5) The little tootsie rolls in the giveaways bags that we did not give all away. Hello!

352 down

14 to go
Grace in Small Things
November 15th
Monday

1) Rubber bands. They come in so handy!
2) Five cent stamps, they come in so handy with .39 cent stamps.
3) Red envelopes from Hobby Lobby!
4) My new watch was re sized so it does not fly off my arm!
5) I did not go insane at work today when I was told one of my "off" days I was not going to be paid for b/c I took a sick day they "forgot" to factor in. Oh well, at least I have these vaca type days given to me. Some companies have no vaca for a year. (but they do have sick days....catch the flu here and you are screwed!)

Count Down to the End

15!!!!

351/365
Grace in Small Things
November 14th

1) Cinnamon rolls (again)
2) That decedent hot chocolate from Joe's sister.
3) Do not go insane (again) from the drive back from Nashville. The traffic jams are amazing. I could not do it daily.
4) My sponsor's daughter shows up. I was going to bail out, call her up and tell her I was sick anything to get out of it. I was so frustrated on Friday because I did not know the product! I was like the greeter and people would go through our booth and them "check out" with my sponsor. I was told on Friday that the commissions would go to the person who "helped" them....blah blah blah. I was almost in tears on Friday. Anyway, her daughter was there and I am glad I went b/c she is a charming and interesting girl. I found out her Dad is a Colonel and her political views are conservative. Very. She loves Sarah Palin. I asked her to explain her reasoning on several subjects. "Government should not be involved in business" (fantasy) and "The health care bill is wrong" "why?" I did not want to debate her, I was very curious to hear her define her reasoning. Too many people coming in and out of the booth to have much of a discussion. She was a charming girl anyway.
5) Sponsor did the right thing and split most the sales of the day, minus my share of the booth space and kick in on the "giveaway" I came out ahead about $10.

350

Saturday
November 13th
Grace in Small Things

1) Was able to scan pictures into the computer and post on FaceBook. Pictures from a High School Reunion I went to - a long time ago and quite frankly another one is next year. I found the pictures in an unexpected cache of photographs Thursday while cleaning the garage looking for lost Christmas tree ornaments.
2) Worked three extra hours at the Bucket. Good b/c X-mas is on the horizon.
3) Made my favorite chicken dish for dinner.
4) Received my postcards from Vista print. I love Vista print.
5) The mayor, the real mayor, from a town in West Ky was at the Bucket this morning. He is fun to talk to. He won 90% of the ballot.

November 12

Friday
349/365

1) Attend the Christmas Village in Nashville as a vendor with S&D.
2) Learn a lot at the booth about S&D - because I have not had much success with persuading anyone to have a party.
3) Kettle Korn at X-mas village with vendor discount.
4) Did not go insane due to Nashville traffic. It was a little iffy for a spell.
5) Not certain if I like my sponsor or not. There is just something about her that makes me think that under any other circumstances I would not seek her out as a pal. But, I am giving her the benefit of the doubt. I am practicing the teaching of Tony Robbins - I once had a teacher in High School who taught Latin. He would say, "Throw enough mud at a brick wall and something has to stick!" Well, it's true!

348/365

Thursday Nov 10th

1) Finally broke down and opened the box on the front porch - in it was a new watch for May-May!!
2) Did I tell you all I smashed the crystal of yet another watch at my BIL's 50th B-day party. Yes, I lost my balance and went down and caught myself on my left hand - which is the hand I wear the watch on. And the bands are always very loose so, I once again smash the crystal on my watch. But, I was uninjured and time took on new certain dreaminess when I was watchless for a little over a month. It seemed to go a little faster at times.
3) Remembered I have SIRUS radio and listened to BB King station all morning.
4) Did I mention I took two day off from the Mall? And I was not on the schedule at the Bucket? So I had a whole free day. (and Joe was in Memphis)
5) Went to Goodwill and found some interesting things - three more cook books among them.

This is Grace in Small Things

Edition 347
Out of 365
Wednesday Nov. 10th

1) Arriving home, there was a big package on the front porch!
2) Joe showed me how good spinach dip is on a ham sandwich.
3) Found my black pearls! Perfect with my Biscuit Bucket black and white blouse.
4) Found the perfect Santa dish at the $ store.
5) MDI said, "I worked 67 hours last week" I said, "I work 67 hours every week!" I exaggerated, but so did she. It's more like 58 - 60 hours a week.

346/365

Tuesday November 9th
Grace in Small Things

1) I bought all this Cindy Crawford beauty stuff and finally got around to using these tiny little capsules of liquid. OMG! Makes your skin feel like soft and beautifully silky. WOW!
2) I was tearing down the two lane highway on my way to the Bucket, late as always, and came up in two deer scampering across the highway in front of me! Worse, two more on the side lines getting ready to make a break for it right behind them! Wonder of wonders! The second batch of deer saw me and waited!!, turned back. They must have made it because no evidence otherwise on the way home.
3) Going to work in the morning the sky was so blue! The jet vapors were everywhere and it looked like a giant tic-tac-toe game ready to be played in the heavens.
4) Got my big Gift Card project completed and in the mail.
5) Booked my bro airfare using the buddy passes.

345 of 365

The Horse Seeing The Barn
November 8th, 2010
Monday

1) I was only one minute late for work. I hate that time clock. It's a joke! I'm salary for Pete's Sake. But there had been abuse in the past. So we all suffer.
2) Got registered into a Holiday Gift Show next week-end!
3) While I was in the Mall talking to people I was told something was wrong with my eye, like a broken blood vessel. We happen to have two eye places in the Mall and I staggered into one and began to fill out the paper work to see a Doctor. The idea of a bleeding eye made me almost pass out. I could not lower my head in between my legs because I was wearing a skirt and I worry more about propriety than passing out. So I staggered down the Mall and made it (barely) into the office and laid on the couch in the reception area until the blood made it's way back to my brain (and disfigured eye). When I finally took a look at it, it wasn't so bad. Just really really red. Must have really strained them at the Bucket trying to act all normal without glasses. I really really need to go to an eye Doc and get good glasses. Living like this is ridiculous.
4) Big Guy asked me what was up with MDI. I said I did not know and did not want to know not wanting to be sucked into the drama. He said that was a smart move.
5) Someone told me a big secret today and I loved it. I laughed and laughed and I am sworn to secrecy to not reveal this secret to my other siblings! But I did tell Joe.

344/365

Sunday November 7th
Grace in Small THings

1) Spent my free time giving the living room a good cleaning!
2) Made halloween cinnamon rolls - yummy.
3) The time changed. Oh that extra hour was like heaven on earth. My 24 hours of freedom just became 25 hours of freedom!
4) I went to the Bucket to get my fair share of abuse and forgot my glasses! There was no way I was able to go home and retreive them so I worked "blind". But I thought I saw posted I was #1 in sales. I was able to locate a magnifying glass and sure enough. I was number one Queen Bee. I don't know why I love it, I just do.
5) Got the Christmas decorations out of the attic.

343/365

Saturday Nov. 6th

1) Watched Avatar on cable and, just like when I watched 300 thinking I was going to dislike it, I loved it! Great movie. Joe fell asleep. Said it was too long. He fell asleep during Lost in Translation - four times (Netflix and cable). That time it was the dreamy music.
2) Found some Bourbon Barrel type beer at Sango Walmart.
3) Oh oh oh - love the Sango Walmart!! It is like the Walmart in Olive Branch, easy to find things, large aisles and the people shopping in there are ....well, lets say different.
4) One of my customers told me they are going to buy more jewelry! Hurray!
5) After the Fashion Show at the Mall (OMG - it was disastrous! I felt very bad, and kind of guilty for not helping out) I walked out into the bright beautiful sunshine and realized I was FREE FREE FREE for 24 hours!

Nov 5th

Grace in Small Things
342/365

1) Slipped out of the Mall and avoided the dress rehearsal for the upcoming Fall Fashion Show. I am beginning to hate the fashion shows! hate them. Lot of drama and smelly feet - yes, some people don't know how to bathe properly and in the confines of a small dressing room it's pee - ewwwwww.
2) Had the most God awful stack of account payables to finish that it was as huge relief to get them in the mail. When I worked at another company, years and years ago, I was in the corporate office in the accounting department. Our facilities would authorize the payables and then send them up to us to finalize, enter into the computer and cut the checks. Not this company, I have to do everything but cut the check. Even balance my budget! If the money is not there I have to syphon it from another account! It's crazy! I have never seen such accounting in my life!! It makes me just insane, but this is the life I live.
3) One of the security guards, the girl one, came into the office wearing those skinny jeans and a long sweater. She looked great. Helping with the fashion show is making her blossom!
4) MDI not in the office until 1pm then she vanished. This was good for me to slip away at 5pm.
5) Found this cool group on Meet-Up called Little Black Dress Club. So I joined! I'm officially a joiner now.

November 4th

341/365
Grace in Small Things

1) My Dad would have been 91 years old today. I miss him every day. He is still a presence in my life. He taught me how to drive many years ago. My first driving lesson was in the Texas Instrument's parking lot on a Sunday afternoon! I then graduated to the Kroger parking lot. When I am tooting around town he is still sitting beside me giving me little hints and telling me horror stories about flipping a car over when you sneeze (the newfangled power steering!lol) and all sorts of dogma that he pounded in my head that I still heed today. Happy Birthday Dad, I hope you are having a marvelous celebration up in the heavens.
2) Made more granola and did not scorch it this time. It was kick ass good!
3) I usually work at the Bucket on Thursday nights. It is a horror night of floor moves and price changes. It's nice.
4) Made blackened salmon because I found the box of spices from The Fresh Market (a moment of silence here for my roughing it in an area without one single alternative food market! I have to drive into (shudder) Nashville for anything that resembles a Fresh Food.
5) Cleaning the closet.

340/365

November 3rd
The Chocolate Diaries
Grace in Small Things

1) Peppermint chocolate milk shake - thank God the holidays come only once a year!
2) Little Ms. Candy pranced in here with her Dad.
3) I have about 100 little tubes of lip gloss and lip balm in different flavors. Such as Peppermint swirl, cream soda, chocolate raspberry, vanilla bean, honey. sugar cookies - you get the picture.
4) Found a kicking recipe for Hot Pepper jelly! Do I dare??
5) Chocolate coffee

November 2

Grace in Small things

1) Figured out how to use the Evite program. Very valuable.
2) Did my first display case and it looked great! (the next day the customer changed it all - it looked OK, but not sharp and crisp like mine. Hers looked like the same old same old. People like to feel comfortable. It stung at first, but then I was over it.
3) Found out that one of my favorite store managers (Great American Cookie ) is from the hills of Eastern KY - wouldn't you know it? We can talk about Lexington. It reminds me of the Ft. Wayne joke when Joe met up with one of his buddies from central Ky and they were yakking away, and someone commented, "They're over there talking Hillbonics"....it was very funny at the time. But when I say, "this place reminds me of Turfland Mall" she knows exactly what I mean. She lived in Lex for a long time before moving here. We bonded.
4) Had a meeting with other S&D reps in the area. It was fun and informative.
5) And the Hilton has great brownies - tastes like they have a hint of cherry in them. I wanted to stuff the whole tray in my purse, but I didn't.

November 1st

I've lost count again
Grace in small things

1) This is the month I began GiST - so this will be the month I finish. As easy as this may seem, it is hard. Some days I forget and don't realize it until a week later - (check out October Wednesday Oct. 27th!!) Sometimes I jot them down in my little Bucket notepad and then misplace it! So, as easy as I make this appear, it's been a challenge.
2) Big Man at the mall had two personal chats with me.
3) Found out a most juicy piece of gossip that MD1 was making out outside the Mall - eeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
4) Finished listening to the Tony Robbins CD - picked up a lot of useful stuff and hope to go over it again before returning it to the library.
5) Poured raisins in my salad. Yummy

It's Halloween Y'all

Grace in Small

1) I was home alone all day long!! Until I had to go to work. Do you know how wonderful it is to have silence like that?
2) ATM machines (for deposits - lol)
3) Ease of making a Money transfer using a Debit card (I told you B. called yesterday - lol, shoot me now)
4) I can make the most kick butt rice with chicken stock, butter and cheap rice.
5) Dexter - I love that show. Joe says it's becoming too contrived for him. This from a man who loves "The First 48" and "Pawn Stars"

Saturday at the Mall

Grace in small things
October 30th

1) Have a tremendous turn out for the costume contest at the Mall. About 150 little ghosts and goblins line up. My fav? I loved the 10 month old twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2.

2) There was this grand parent couple at the Bucket, he was a WWII vet signed up at age 16, who had their breakfast paid for anonymously. It does my sanity good to know this type of kindness is still around. Then they bought a double tiered musical carousel - I love that thing and have my eye on it when (and if) it goes on sale. We have a habit of selling out of these beautiful things.

3) My new photo program works.

4) Cleaned out my closet and found some "lost" clothes (lol - could have used them this summer!)

5) Spoke to Bridget on phone.

Friday is the Best Day of the Week

Grace in Small Things
October 29th

1) Joe comes to office to visit while his car is having the tires changed. We have lunch together!!
2) Big Man at the mall thanks me for stepping in and answering phones and being the gate keeper while Mrs. Long Suffering takes a very long week-end.
3) Have I mentioned the chocolate coffee from the Bucket? It's fab.
4) New coffee pot from Walmart - God I hate/love that place.
5) I had to run home to download some songs from MP3Suite for the upcoming fashion show. Why is MP3 down? I sent them an e-mail asking if they were shut down like Limewire. Heck, ,maybe they are Limewire (too). I could not it to work so I head back to the Mall and get behind this slow procession down the two lane highway (which I think has it's days numbered since the new Solar panel plant is scheduled to open next year and this road will be history) and I am itching to pass pass pass. Somebody pass!! And as people turn off, pass etc and I inch my way forward the Jeep way in front of me (maybe 100 yards) and the reason it is way in front of me is that I had to slow down to let someone turn off, brakes and I think "Oh heck! why oh why" and just then I see that family of deer cross the road in front of him and scamper off into the front yard (remember these front yards are like five acres or more....Joe would die having to mow them) If it had been me tearing down 79 as fast as I dared, I could have hit them! So, thank God for that slow moving Jeep.

334/365

Thursday
October 28th

1) Received snail mail from my cuz in LA.
2) Received e-mail from my cuz in PA
3) Found a new hand lotion at Biscuit Bucket that smells like lemon creme pie -
4) My coffee pot broke! Dang it! It was that "free" European pot when you sign up with Gevelia coffee! Thank God for gas station coffee. So convenient....lol
5) Had a great horoscope today.

333/365

Hump Day
October 27th

1) Back to Biscuit Bucket and my fav customer of the day is this little kid about two - maybe two and a half leaving the store and stopping at the Halloween display, then stopping to examine the Christmas display nearest the door. His Mom says something to the effect of, "Time to go" and this little sweetie turns to me, takes off his John Deere cap and tips his hat at me, returns it to his head and heads toward the door. How adorable was that! His mother tells me, "His father just taught him to do that"..."Well, it made my day". I told her. And it did.
2) Joe bought me a coffee mug for transporting coffee from the house to work via the vehicle. It hold about a thimbleful. I usually use my 24 ounce old Coke tumbler and fill it to the brim. But he is so sweet.
3) Joe brings home donuts for breakfast! He leaves the house about 5 - 530am in the mornings and had time to pick up the sweet treats at the local blue collar gas station. They are brought in from Hop-town daily. Very good.
4) I had to have some flat shoes and in a hurry, so I headed into Walmart and found the cutest flats for $9. I have a love hate relationship with Walmart.
5) Finish contacting everyone in the Mall for the "Harvest festival" (what we are now calllng Halloween so as to not offend anyone).

October 26th

Tuesday
Grace in Small Things
332/365

1) Met Candi at Old Chicago for drinks and good company after work
2) Joe a no-show,but that's OK it gave me and Candi lots to talk about - lol
3) MD1 was called and reprimanded for missing the dead-line for the Marketing Plan. She had not thought about it once after turning the budget part. I had been working on the SWOT, market analysis, customer profiles, goals & strategies, zip code analysis since summer. Good thing. I handed it over and let her put her name on it. What's a subordinate to do? I am thinking she may get fired, and subsequently I may be fired along with her. Oh well, I was telling Joe the other day if I had to choose between Biscuit Bucket and the Mall, I would be leaning towards the Bucket.
4) Arrived home and my box of coffee had arrived!
5) Brilliant idea for gift bags for Christmas gifts!

331/365

Grace in Small Things
Monday October 25th

1) Brilliant fund raising plan
2) Brilliant letter
3) Brilliant hair due to new shampoo and conditioner
4) Candi visits me at Mall
5) Home with Joe for evening and no WORK!

Sunday October 24

Grace in Small Things

Lost Count of 365

1) While driving to Mom's (three hour trip) begin to listen to Tony Robbins CD and end up becoming sucked in BIG TIME. Even cried at the end of the first CD.
2) Drove into my Hometown and since I am already in an emotional state call Joe (who can not make the b-day party celebration even though he is one of the b-day being celebrated) and tell him that our home town is the Most Beautiful Place on the face of the Earth! The sun was shining that soft October way it has and the trees were all in their Autumn attire. The leaves were blowing/dancing across the county road skipping over the stone fences - just to beautiful to keep to myself.
3) Bought home a Lexington Leader paper. After months and months of the C-ville newspaper the LL is a treat! My God they have a bunch going on in Central KY.
4) Seeing most my bro's and sis's and Mom.
5) Driving around my Home town.

October 23rd

Saturday in the Park
329/365
Grace in Small Things

1) Trip to the Library! Find Tony Robbins CD.
2) ALDI - always a good day when I go there. Find six beautiful pink roses for $3.99
3) Made my spinach souffle for Mom's tomorrow (October B-day party)
4) One of the other girls at Biscuit Bucket said she would like to have a S&D party! I almost fainted.
5) Found a florist in Glasgow for the visitation and funeral of one of Joe's crew members wife's Mom. One of Joe's other crew members came by and donated to the cause.

October 22

Friday finally arrived
Grace in Small Things
329/365

1) Thank God for No-Fault days in lieu of sick days and or vaca days.
2) Fed Ex/Kinko or what ever they call it now - it rocks!
3) A great lunch at the Career Day. Our booth was great! People who entered the room we were stationed in made a bee line for our glittery and snazzy jewelry display. I talked a lot and realized how much I love to just schmooze with people. I find that I run off my sales pitch, telling about Stella and Dot and the opportunity and show off the jewelry then I ask them, "What kind of work are you looking for?" " Where are you from?" "How did you end up in C-ville?" I love it.
4) "Borrowed" black table cloth from Mall - thank God!
5) Met a bunch of characters from the area. Need to really get some game plan together regarding networking.

Thursday

October 21

1) Right before I woke up someone spoke to me before I opened my eyes, "Your only limitations are those you set for yourself" -
2) Still eating left over ice cream cake - still good
3) MD1 sent home sick - why is this good? Don't ask. Doom & gloom all week at office.
4) Got a haircut!
5) Found out the "child" cutting my hair is from the Tiny Town I am presently find myself living in. We talked about Tiny Town and the Mennonites getting killed lately, either from lightening strikes while harvesting sweet potatoes, or by a drunk driver hitting the guys tractor, joy riding in a front loader, or being wiped out while riding a bicycle. "They are always getting killed" she said sadly - it was dark sad sick funny. She did give me a great haircut!

Wednesday

October 20th
326/365

1) Pizza at work!
2) And ice cream cake!
3) At Biscuit Bucket work with Candi! Find out the next night is Calla Lilly's last night
4) Had a brainstorm about Stella & Dot opportunities
5) Finding the Watkins hand cream that smells like Lemon Pie - yummy.

Three Hundred Twenty Five

Tuesday October 19
Grace in Small Things

1) Will not work at Mall, will not work at the Bucket, will not work anywhere at'll
2) Cash in my cans got $9
3) Went to Goodwill and found a cook book for my growing collection, Moose lodge or something like that.
4) Napped in the afternoon
5) Went all through Tuesday Morning and did not find a thing!

324

Only 41 left!!
Grace in Small Things
Monday October 18

1) Had lady campaigning come to my door and guess what? She worked at the Biscuit Bucket in the late 1990's before moving "up North" but is back now and running for city council. We chatted a long time. Wish I could vote for her but I am still registered in Indiana due to home ownership.
2) Had another guy knock on door who wanted to know about my pile of cans! They are in bags beside the house hidden behind a bush - but he saw them anyhow. I almost told him to just to take them all, but decided to keep my mouth shut.
3) While working at Mall I realized I had the next day off (extra day for working MOD) and realized I could do it!
4) Thank God for that five hour shot!
5) Found some interesting garden info in the papers. I get the Sat Sun and Monday paper all at once on Monday. I love it!

Sunday

323 of 365

1) Military night at Mall and got to boss every body around (lol)
2) Worked morning at BB and saw some old timers I have missed lately
3) A woman recognized the Stella & Dot necklace I was wearing!
4) We gave away about a zillion gifts (that I collected from the mall merchants!)
5) It was all over in about an hour. The tow $500 gift card winners were present unlike the T-shirt winners!

October 16th

322 of 365
Grace in Small Things

1) More Stella & Dot jewelry arrives
2) Mall was all good Saturday
3) Got to work with my fav Kimmy at Biscuit Bucket (aren't most all of them my favorites?)
4) Joe called with the exciting news that UK beat South Carolina in football~
5) Had a grand salad for dinner

October 15th

Grace in small things

1) Bosses day - had ice cream cake!
2) MD1 birthday (Saturday) and surprised her with a Yankee Candle
3) Worked extra hours at Biscuit Bucket - gonna get a good sized "extra" check
4) MOD at Mall and love the quiet time and catch up on Time mag reading
5) Quiet at Mall - no gang fights, no kids misbehaving, no motorcycle wrecks.

320 of 365

October 14th Thursday
Grace in Small Things

1) Found some rocking web sites for Direct Sales and Social networking
2) Received my real estate tax assessment - yay! Lower than before (lol)
3) Tackled some phone calls and found that I enjoyed it a lot!
4) I had some great ideas that I shared with MD1
5) Received snail mail three days in a row!

Wednesday Oct. 13th

Grace in Small Things
319/365

1) Saw a rainbow in the way home!
2) Ate the scorched granola I made this past week-end and it was not too too bad
3) Joe arrived home safe - (he went to NC)
4) Survivor!! Love that show. I am in heaven with my reality tv addiction.
5) Met a lady from Louisville at the Mall today. We had a wonderful and colorful chat.

318/365

October 12th Columbus Day!
Grace in Small Things

1) Stunning sunset over C-ville with purple and the color of orange that looks like a gigantic fire is ahead of you.
2) Finding the perfect candy dish for the display table for Halloween candy.
3) Finding my address book - though not lost, misplaced
4) Receiving snail mail. I don't care if I have mentioned this before...it makes my day!
5) Dancing with the Stars - love it!

317

Monday October 11th
Grace in Small Things

1)Finding software for the computer for the printer!
2) Box arrives with my display trays and necklace bust.
3) No work at Biscuit Bucket - three days off in a row. could get use to this.
4) The dollar store
5) Begin advertising on one of my favorite web sites

316

Grace in Small things
Sunday October 10th

1) Go to church at this small Christian in Church
2) The pastor sees us and immediately knows we are new and makes a beeline for us and makes us feel really really appreciated and welcome
3) Check books - lol
4) Having the whole week-end off
5) A 1 1/2 hour nap in the middle of the afternoon!

October 9th

Grace in Small Things
315/365

1) Drive around (by instinct) and find the Southern donut place. The best donut place in C-ville. Too bad the best donut place in this area is in R-ville, 25 miles north. But still, a good gooey fritter. Nothing like the cherry fritters way up north in FW. Man - those were little pieces of heaven.

2) Library! I love the library! Get a load of books and head into a study room and make tons of notes. Check out six books about direct selling. Well, sort of about direct selling. Mary Kay bio, etc.

3) Go to the independent book store and find Napoleon Hill's "Think and grow rich" which is one of the books Mary Kay keeps on her bed stand. I purchase the CD.

4) Listen to the first chapter and I must tell you that if I have to "figure" out the secret of this book ....!!!! But, good stuff, glad I got it.

5) Joe and I go see Secretariat and it is a Fun Movie!! Thought in many parts Joe and I would whisper to each other, "WTF?" like Bull Hancock spending (what appeared) all his time in Virginia. He (and his farm) are in Central KY. Several things like that.

October 8th

314/365

1) Is there anything better than a Friday?

2) Omega buys jewelry off my web site

3) Skinny cow ice cream sold at Walmart for $1.22/each and about 120 calories. So much better than the Steak & Shake jumbo calorie heavenly 1/2 price shakes from 2-4 Happy Hour!

4) Found a fantastic inspirational web site dedicated to Direct Sales.

5) Is there anything better than a Friday?

oct 7th

Grace in Small Things

1) Joe's Birthday! Three more years until he can retire. Told him we should get a calendar with the COUNTDOWN. He is so ready to hand up his boot and lantern.

2) Made chili

3) Joe's perfect birthday card fro. Biscuit Bucket

4) Thank God for Walmart (sometimes) and their selection of flashlights. (Joe needed a new teeny one)

5) Little note books that I use at Biscuit Bucket and able to jot down thoughts for GiST to find weeks later.

312/365

Grace in Small THings
October 6th Wednesday

1) German Chocolate Cake
2) No watch to constantly check the time. Guess what? Time seems to go by faster! I broke watch on the two mile walk from Pt. A to Pt. B after the Surprise birthday party. I fell off a curb - lol. Once again, the angels caught me but my watch (once again this is the second damn time I have busted a crystal this way!) was not so lucky.
3) Spoke to Bridget after a long silence.
4) Kind of depressed over the sorry turn out for my Stella & Dot party. keep remembering Joe's "Walk it off" analogy.
5) Something wonderful about candy corn! Especially Indian Corn!

311/365

Tuesday October 5th

1) Thank God for sick days
2) Thank God for walk-in clinics
3) Thank God for hydocodiene
4) Thank God for TJ MAxx
5) Thank God for rechargeable batteries

310

out of 365
Grace in Small things
October 4th - Monday a new week

1) Sent Sara a message that asked what I had done that she did not like me anymore! She called me immediately. lol. I have a couple of people who hardly reply to emails. One in [particular, who I found after looking for many years. Power of Facebook, found her in Florida. But, she is never on FB, is beginning a new job/career, has a new boy friend and I never heard from her again. I've written her two epistles, maybe three, but have heard nothing back. Maybe some people just want to be left alone. But I will tell you this, I met her when she was very young, maybe a little bit older than Omega, in 1986. She was maybe 21. She became my "assistant" and when I left, she took over my job. We kept in touch off and on for many years but my feelings got hurt when I called once and told her I was heading up to Louisville and wanted to see her. She hesitated and said, "No I can't I am seeing Mr. X that night and I don't get to see him that often." After I hung up I thought, she just threw over a girlfriend for a guy and talk about not seeing someone very often! She only sees me once or twice a year!" So, it should come as no surprise that she is once again brushing me off. I shouldn't take it so hard. Maybe I'll write her another Epistle....
2) Then I has another telephone conversation with one of The Animal House brothers about the upcoming Homecoming party this week-end!
3) Then Rita called me back!
4) Sometimes I love the phone, but most the time I am weary of it. Because I had to answer the phone at the company I was talking about in #1 for a long time before I became promoted. It's a bitch to answer the phone for a multi million dollar company if you have a ton of other duties besides answering the phone. It's a constant interruption. I grew to cringe when it rang. But sometimes, I love the phone.
5) Found a protective lens for my new lens. Could not believe it arrived with out one. WTH?

309

October 3rd
Grace in Small things

1) Breakfast at Lynn's Paradise cafe
2) Seeing C.W. who I have not seen for quite some time. She gave me a beautiful gift of heavy glass candle sticks made in Ireland. They are simply gorgeous!
3) Go to St. James Art Fair! A surprise for me. Did not expect to go.
4) Found a fairy. I think I am collecting fairy's now.
5) We walked from the surprise party to the love shack b/c of the throwing back of libations. In the morning Joe took off to get the car. It was a two mile hike!! How did I do it the night before??? Thank God for Bardstown Rd. A safe walk from point A to point B. Joe arrived at the Love Shack (name given to my sis's spare house they have in the Highland area off B-town road) with coffee. So sweet considering he is not a coffee drinker. Guess he knew I needed it - BAD.

308

Saturday Oct. 2nd

1) Got the oil changed
2) Breakfast at Biscuit Bucket with Calla Lilly
3) Big D's surprise 50th party! And he was surprised. Great party.
4) Oh yea, great party IN LOUISVILLE, man I love that city.
5) Midnight snack at Wick's pizza.

October 1st

A brand new month

307/365

1) Milk shake day
2) Did not have to work at BB until 7pm but go in at 6pm. What an idiot I can be at times! But got an extra hour of min. wage (lol - not quite) in.
3) Sent out invites to my Stella & Dot show
4) Got all excited that I was going to see Rita!! at work
5) The fact that it's Friday, it's payday and the week-end looms ahead almost free well, it's just a great beginning to the month.

Are we there yet?

306/365
Grace in Small things
Last day of September

1) Upon returning home from Biscuit Bucket I turned on the DVR which had taped the latest episode of Trailer Park Boys and found the very first of the series! They had just got out of prison and we were introduced to the cast of characters.
2) Booked the Breakfast room at Holiday Inn.
3) Received a gift cook book in the mail! Waiting for the catch.
4) Began to ask people to have a S&D show!
5) Horrid night at Biscuit Bucket. First, a kid threw up and they walked out without telling any one (working with the general public is quite eye opening!) But old steely eyed Mary spotted the potential hazard and cleaned it up. As I returned to the floor after disposing of the now yucky towels, some kid dumps their to-go cup of sticky soda on the floor! In the same spot! So I go to clean that up and chase ice cubes around the store but finally get it resolved. No sooner than I turn around I get hit by some smart aleck little witch of a red head kid who is receiving a $60 dollhouse! Look up Brat in the dictionary and there she is! But I just took it in stride and laughed it off (walk it off....walk it off....walk it off...)....The grace in it? The night finally ended.

Loosing my Grip

September 29th
305/365

Grace in Small Things

1) Back to work at Biscuit Bucket after four days off. Worked with my buddy Calla, whom i am growing to love.
2) Finally spoke to my S&D sponsor. That girl is not much of a communicator.
3) Spoke to an elderly lady at Biscuit Bucket. She began telling me all about her deceased father who just recently died (she looks to be in her 80's! Longevity must run in her family)She was with her daughter and grand-daughter, who actually probably was her great grand daughter. She told me stories about her Dad for about five minutes. When she left her daughter/grand daughter apologized to me!! I was really taken back! I loved listening to her. I loved her Memory Moment.
4) Cutest kid in the world was in there. He had just had eye surgery on his tear ducts. Out patient. But he was all smiles and all flirty. And only about 11 months old.
5) I wrote down "finding venues on the Internet". Not quite certain what I meant by that, but it must have made me happy at the time.

Ice Breaker

I dove right in and had the first “home party” for the jewelry company I have decided to attempt to conquer Direct Sales.

It was a bust. I invited about 18 people, all the girls from The Biscuit Bucket, and some very slight acquaintances who where in the Home Based Business shows at the Mall. I gave it a spin like this, “come meet potential clients!” Not a one of them showed.

Hey!! I thought it was all about networking.

So, I am discouraged right out of the gate. I tried to piece together everything that went wrong. Clearly I did not invite enough people. I figured half of them would come….maybe. Out of 18 invitees, only three actually came, and one of them brought someone.

So I had four people at the first party. Guess that is better than one. And infinitely better than zero.

This is when I would normally throw in the towel. This is normally when I would throw up my hands and think I gave it the good old (old) college try. But not yet! I have a Job Fair commitment in a couple of weeks and I have agreed to tend a booth at some Holiday Event in Nashville in November. In the very far future, I have my eye on a Bridal Fair in Lexington in January. So I guess what I will do is regroup and rethink things.

I have several aces in the hole. Number one is that I love the jewelry. I have never been much of a jewelry person before. I had no idea how to wear it actually. I have several pairs of earrings that I love and I wear with everything when I can get away with it. But as for a necklace…? Maybe a chain around my neck but nothing more glamorous. It’s like a whole new world has opened up for me.

Secondly, after a year of retail I am so use to rejection that it is not that alarming any longer. I don’t add on to the refusal, “They don’t like me”. I just move on to the next one.

Not ready to give up just yet.

Tuesday

304?

1) The jewelry arrived!
2) I'm crazy over the bracelet
3) The Daymar Job Fair is going to let me in!! I'm approved.
4) Woke up at 2am and could not go back to sleep. So, I star gazed for a spell.
5) MDI was out of office all day and I found that a good thing (lol)

Monday's Blues

303/365

1) Got my Stella & Dot box of supplies
2) Thought that I would attend a job fair to promote S&D and MDII came into my office with info about a Job Fair that Daymar is having. I could not believe it.
3) My stomach ailment finally ended
4) Made jambalaya from a box mix and it was very good
5) Did not have to work at Biscuit Bucket

Sunday After

302/365

1) Breakfast at Denny's. It was great.
2) Visiting two flea markets on way back South.
3) Finding a can smasher at one flea mkt. and that wonderful honey the second one. Shocked and distraught that my source for the most magnificent knock off purses was no longer there. Seems he will re-open in October. His knocks offs are brilliant.
4) The season premier of Dexter.
5) Deb got up and left before I woke up. I was crushed that I didn't get to say good bye to her. But, maybe it was best. I would have cried.

September 25th

301/365

1) Finally it's Saturday and the Baby Fair and the Hayride party!
2) Deb is in Kentucky!!
3) The hayride is fantastic time. Even though I got a trifle sick the next day from something I drank (lol) it was a great time. Especially the 2am Hayride! What a trip.
4) Met a friend from MSU that I had not seen in many many years - much like the Animal House gang - only he was part of the "Bolio's", another group of trouble makers I hung out with! Oh the memories. How did this group intersect that group? It's a long story that involves a lot of Red Bird games and silly antics from the 1970's. I'll say no more. It was absolutely a knock out night seeing one of the Bolio's.
5) The Baby Fair went well. Some minor glitches, but pretty good. My prizes were fantastic!

I'm In Love

Work for the woman. You!
Stella&Dot is what happened when women got together and dreamed up their ideal career. Recognized in the New York Times and the Today Show, it’s not only a big idea, it’s a smart business that actually works. Where else can you make $1,000s per month working part time from home? Or crank it up to full time only when you want to? Where else can you see a profit in a few weeks, give yourself a promotion, never get laid off, and have as swell a boss as you? (lol)(ain't it the truth?)



Finally earn what you are worth:

Up to 30% commission

50% off samples

Free jewelry, business supplies, rewards and travel

See profit in just a few weeks.

$1,000s per month working part-time at home

Cash bonuses up to $50k

Unlimited income on team sales



Only $199 launches your career. Your free $350 sample shopping spree is on us. Call (e-mail me for the number) or email me today!

Pictures to follow. (natch) My first party is Oct 5th

ITS 300!

The horse seeing the barn
September 24
Friday

1) There is this dazzling star in the sky! Juniper. It's incredible.
2) The silly cat jumps on the low book case and knocks off the radio. I hear this
strange static and humming buzz. I find that the National Weather Broadcast
in a feature on this clock radio! Who knew. I love it. Just push in the button and
wave the small box around until it finds a good connection with the feed. I love
those computerized voices.
3) Flower shop in Louisville that delivers on that day!
4) One of my participating vendors came to the office with all the paperwork! How do
you spell relief. I-N-S-U-R-A-N-C-E.
5) Made all the gifts for the baby fair into clear bags with ribbon and fancy gift
paper. They are awesome. And so pretty.

Grace in Small Things

September 23rd
Thursday

1) Had a lunch date at Olive Garden to discuss the possibility of joining a direct
company.
2) I did and I am so stoked!!
3) It's Stella & Dot. Very new company and so chic. Irresistible jewelry!
4) Put together 100 goodie bags in my office and it was fun. Have a song in my heart
this day. Nothing can get me down.
5) Found these cranberries in a bag infused with cherry juice. So good on
oatmeal (and that ALDI fake butter I love and honey).

September 22nd

Number 298 of 365

Grace in Small Things

1) Collected over 2500 in prizes for the Baby Show! I'm good - lol.
2) Found I get a $10 rebate on the photo program I purchased.
3) Ran into an old Biscuit Bucket friend at Walmart. She quit some time ago and it was
was so nice to see her again.
4) Heather Be Thy Name showered me with compliments this evening. I smell a rat.
5) Did bring up the % points she is so rabid about up 4 notches and sold the gap between projection and last years sales to with in $100. I thought she was going to hug me - ugh.

Tuesday

September 21st
297/365

1) Mrs. Long Suffering late to work (Dr. appt) and she brought donuts.
2) Joe received his RR Retirement paperwork for estimating our income when it
finally happens and it is SO GOOD!!
3) Survivor?? Survivor is on?? Why didn't I know this!
4) Received a box of goodies for the Baby Expo - a box of 100 baby blankets valued
at $11.50 each! Holy Cow!
5) Came up with a good analogy for Mad Dog I - She is like an island you can not
dock your boat.

296/365

September 20th, Monday

1) Talked to GFL, on phone, for a long time today!
2) The newspaper delivery gal messed up and we received a Nashville Sunday paper!
3) Dancing with the Stars!!
4) Slowly figuring out the ins and outs of the new photo program
5) Found my hurricane Wilma pictures. Thank God for flash drives. If I had not transferred the pictures from my hard drive to the flash drive they would have been lost!

Back in the Saddle Again

September 19th, Sunday
Grace in Small Things
295/365

1) Cleaned (partially) out the garage and made a trip to Goodwill.
2) Bought a new photo program for the digital camera. Looked longingly
at the Photoshop program, but all I ever do is rotate and crop. Sometimes
get rid of red eye. And the occasional sepia. So I spent a lot less on a
inferior product. (only did I find out later how inferior).
3) Made a killer chicken salad with sunflower kernels and grapes - so good.
4) Found my high school year book for scanning into the computer for our
upcoming reunion and subsequent FaceBook page. Kind of a bummer that some
of the cool kids will not be my friend on FB. Boo. A hex on you!
5) It official -Deb coming to KY for the Animal House Hay Ride.

Saturday September 18th

Grace in Small Things

1) Bikers Who Care Toy Run starting at the C-ville Raceway and ending up at the mall. It was a sight to behold. 2,000 + motorcycles of every kind unimaginable. All roaring and raging to the starting line. Most proudly displaying some type of toy for the collection. It was a breath taking sight.
2) Afterwards, we went to a BBQ joint.
3) Received a new lens for the camera.

4) The pictures from the old camera came out kind of OK.
5) My phone was in the pouch of Joe's bike and I was not on the bike with him. I followed the "gang". When I reached the Mall there was Dorothy and a cell phone! I called Joe and all ended well. With lunch at the BBQ place.

Friday and 293

Grace in Small Things

1) Seeing cows in a field on the way into C-ville. Where did they come from? Why have I not seen them before? Interesting.
2) A chicken sandwich for lunch. Should have been a chicken biscuit for breakfast but as the morning waned ......
3) Joe home from Memphis
4) Joe agrees to be in the bike rally tomorrow or rather thinks it's a fun idea
5) Pay day

Thursday is 292

and approximately 73 to go

Grace in Small Things - September 16th

1) Found Stella & Dot on computer and am interested in finding out more about direct selling jewelry
2) Love Jordan Almonds and got a bag from Kroger's from their candy island
3) My Cindy Crawford skin care system samples arrived in the mail today
4) Forgot that last week I had a great Grace in that I went to the movies and saw Eat, Pray, Love. Now I have to admit a time or two I was tempted to glance at my watch and see how much of the movie was left - that is until Javier came on the screen then it was all good. But, I truly enjoyed the book - which I read some three or four years ago - and the protagonist presented to me was not how I envisioned her. In the first place once or twice I felt like screaming at the screen! But like I said, when Javier came on, I calmed down. I couldn't find much to relate to, sympathize or like about Liz. I just think they did not do the book justice - until Javier came on the screen. And for the life of me, I can't remember a love affair in the book?! Anyway, it had been a long time since I have sat in the dark, with a bag of artery clogging buttered popcorn in my lap, sneaking my 20 ounce coke out of my purse, and settling back to be caught up in larger than life fantasy - and I loved it.
5) Hot buttered popcorn at the movies (lol)

291/365

Grace in Small Things
September 15th Wednesday

1) The date crept up on Mad Dog I but when she asked if I had "my part" of the Marketing plan completed (ready for a first draft) I thanked my lucky strikes (tribute to Ricky of Trailer Park Boys) that I had indeed! No locking myself behind a door all day - lol.
2) The Kid down on His Luck told me he was going to pay me back every penny. I told him to forget it and just pay it forward when he could. He looked confused for a moment and then shook his head, "Nope, I'm gonna make it right with you."
3) We have the most creepy wonderful tarantula at Biscuit Bucket. It is about the size of a salad plate and crawls. Totally cool! For only $9.99
4) My new shoes are marvelous - but they squeak a little.
5) Had to sign for a letter from the IRS. I decided to leave it at home and return to work. When I finally opened it up GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! I was so glad I did not ruin my afternoon at work - but I was able to call and straighten things out. At least for the time being.

Tuesday - September 14th

1) The jokester strikes again at the Mall. The inflatable doll lives again. This time sitting at the desk of the Security Chief. We all rush into the bay area to watch the joke play out..."Blah blah blah blah..." "Those reports are in my office." He heads that way with all of us closing in behind him. He throws open the door and there she is, in all her naked glory with a sign around her neck, "Hello You Big Stud" "WHAT THE HELL" he exclaims. Hilarious. Made the day.
2) Received in the mail two big packages from Beechnut I was not expecting for the Baby Fair! Thank You!
3) Found the lost remote control for the number bed. Whew.
4) My new shoes from Ross squeak. But they are the bomb.
5) Receive an e-mail from a mystery person.

Monday

September 13th

1) Mad Men on DVR. Love that Don Draper and his story being explained to us in tiny pieces. You think you know him, and you don't know him at all. Some great lines, and him him outside the NYAC smoking a cigarette with Rolling Stones Satisfaction playing, what a scene!
2) Made red beans and rice.
3) Gave C-Lily her Blue Monday and ate mine.
4) Made a trip to Goodwill - did not find anything. A first! Other than the sheets I am going to use for the lining for the drapes I am going to make. I swear, I am going to make drapes!
5) Stroll into Kroger's and find those luscious 24 ounce Diet Mt. Dew's are on sale again. After close to 10 years of no Dew - I am consuming a river now.

Mom's Birthday party

Sunday

1) Drive home with Joe-Joe and see a dozen or more hot air balloons taking off around Bowling Green. A beautiful sight on a clear bright morning.
2) Rollo's for breakfast.
3) Made the spinach souffle in time to get off from KY/TN to get to central KY in time for brunch including the time change. I enjoy the central time zine but at times it can be a pain.
4)Family dinner with all my bro's and sis's except the bro in NYC. Had a great time. Joe being there put every ones mind to rest that I had not murdered him.
5) Picked up a Blue Monday (candy bar exclusive to central KY area) for C-lily to surprise her.

Saturday and this must be Football

1) UK wins but it's not on TV. Have to watch Tennessee get beat instead. Who ever decided that they should wear orange? My God. Did Peyton Manning don the orange?
2) Find out that C-Lily grew up about 10 miles as the crow flies from where I grew up!
3) Worked morning shift at the Bucket. Glad to get out of there! Heather Be Thy Name was bleeding to death from an injury to the roof of her mouth! From drinking some "scalding coffee". The drama the drama!
4) Had fun afternoon with Joe thinking about going downtown to the Riverfest, thinking about going to this pizza place on Ft Campbell, thinking about his thinking about that...
5) Every time I open the door in the morning and call for Indaka and that silly cat comes, hopping along on his three legs, I feel tremendous relief.

Friday

1) Found some killer material for drapes at the local Fabric Outlet - go figure!
2) My new couch was delivered. In the rain. First day it's rained in a month of Sundays.
3) Dusted off the sewing machine and put it on the table where I could see it.
4) My High School is beating the drums for our reunion next year. Certainly they are mistaken! It can not be that long!
5) My BFF from college is coming to KY for the Hay Ride party with the Animal House guys.

Thursday September 9th

1) Sweet freedom of making a road trip to Nashville
2) Buying some new clothes at Ross - never had been there before. It was great.
3) Pumpkin spice coffee - yummy
4) Trader Joe - I just walked around the store about three times just marveling at all the great stuff and then choosing the usual, Dunkers, lavender milled soap, fresh flowers, Whole Wheat bread and Two Buck Chuck. New Mexico coffee.
5) At a crummy Chinese restaurant but I love a Chinese buffet so it was all good.

Anyone seen 284?

out of 365

You know what this is

1) Biscuit Bucket is carrying Turkish Taffy! Banana flavor. I have not had it since I was a kid. It was ....well, it tasted like a summer afternoon sitting on Giles Grocery Store's warm concrete steps circa 1960's.
2) Mrs. Long Suffering is informed that she will receive the life insurance policy she had before she retired on her husband, who passed away three weeks after she retired. There is a 30 day grace period. We all jumped up and down for her.
3) The mafia boss is in town and gave me a written multiple choice test - I only missed three. Lol. I did guess a lot.
4) Finished up the coupon promotion I was under the gun to get completed!
5) I have four days off from the Mall starting at 5pm!

Tuesday - September 7

You Know What The Hell This Is
283/365

1) Made Chicken a la King and no one to tell me it's fattening!
2) Found someone to make me a diaper cake for the Baby Expo. Also, to my chagrin, found out a diaper cake is not a cake to eat, but a baby shower gift. It has been way too long since I have attended a baby shower obviously.
3) Then Mad Dog I tells me we need a six foot cake for out new food court grand opening. I ask, "Why do we want one that tall?" and she looks at me like I am still thinking a Diaper cake is made with flour and eggs - "Oh a six foot sheet cake" I try to laugh it off, but in my heart I know I watch too much Food Network.
4) Went to Hobby Lobby and bought a pattern to make drapes. It cost me $1. It's called "Curtains for dummies". I swear I had to read it several times before I figured out that I did not need a pattern for the type of drapes I am making, just instructions. For crying out loud!
5) Put an ad on Craigslist for the Home Based Business show.

Labor Day Monday

282/365
Grace in Small Things

1) Got a smoking new hair cut. By a stylist named Mary
2) Interesting ad in the help wanted section of the Newspaper made me dust off the resume and begin adding my new skill set
3) Watching tv later in the day ran across "Pickers" and they were in West KY! ANd wouldn't you know it, one of the guys they visited had NO TEETH!! Why do they always do that to us Kentuckians? Perpetuate the stereotype.
4) Found some great John Prine songs on the You Tube. And discovered that he co-wrote one of my all time favorite karaoke and Country Western songs "You never even called me by my name..." Actually it's "Darling, Darling", I think...lol. John Prine rocks. I've often wondered why he never really made it to the big time. Or maybe he has.
5) Labor day marks the end of summer for most, but not for me! End of summer is when I attend the St James Art Festival and realize its autumn - then summer is over. And by it being Labor Day I realize the St. James Art affair is just around the corner. I need to save some money!

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

281/365
Folks I'm feeling it!
September 5th
Grace in Small Things

1) No humidity and a beautiful glorious day.
2) Cooking in my crummy kitchen and loving it!
3) Began reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. It's a somber read that may take me while to finish.
4) It was a brilliant evening and when I looked up into the black night to marvel at the stars there was THE MILKY WAY!
5) Kicking back with Joe all afternoon

September 4

Grace in Small Things
Saturday
280/365

1) Am Manager on Duty at Mall and very tired. Worked at the Bucket until 1145pm the night before and then back at Bucket at 8am. So I took a nap on the floor at the office. It was great!
2) The usual crowd of hooligans and misguided youths were kind to us this Saturday night. We were able to herd them out without incident.
3) Joe came to Mall and we went shopping. He got a pair of Levi's and shorts for under $20! Amazing.
4) Decided I am going to make draperies for the living room and look at material. Feeling very domestic which I am not. I actually am tired of the old blanket hung over the front windows. We live like college students.
5) Have a hoard of magazines to read. Time, Martha Stewart, Nashville Parents, Cooking Club, bon Appetit.

279 of 365

Grace in Small Things
September 3 rd


1) On my 30 minute lunch break I made it to Wendy's, the Bank and the Post office!
2) Have been alerted to an on-line auction in Louisville - oh man, how I love these things.
3) Found the perfect bracelet (I'm into bracelet's these days)
4) Fell when I placed my foot in an unmarked hole in front of the sidewalk (lol) did not get hurt.
5) By falling I made a trip down memory lane remembering all my most famous falls - in particular the fall into traffic in front of the Newport on the Levee as we were getting ready to run across the six lanes of traffic to reach the Southgate House (a great tavern with live music). Joe picking me up and saying "Walk it off, walk it off" .....

Thursday September 2

Grace in Small Things
278/365

1) Have a huge amount of work at Mall that keeps me busy and happy.
2) At the light entering the city I am next to a bus of kids. The laughing and just major kid noise was infectious.
3) Once again HBTN leaves Biscuit Bucket early. She is sick and thinks she may have scarlet fever - OMG, she cracks me up.
4) Received a snail mail letter from my Mom which had some unused old stamps from the1970's and 80's (she has been feeding me these wonderful little works of art for a year now) and a letter, dated 1968, from my 8th grade teacher (Sister Angela Marie) who was stationed in a little old town in Eastern Kentucky. She wrote glowing things about me. Saying I was astonished is an understatement. We (as a collective group of unruly thirteen year old kids) put this poor women through hell. She had a "break down" before the year ended and Horrors of Horrors, my Mother came to take her place and finish out our school year. Good Old Mom. What a shining sparkly jewel among a box of rocks. (I have no idea what I mean by that, it just flowed from my fingers.)
5) Pay day. I might use this as a grace over and over, but it makes it all worth it in the end. - Paid off the couch (on lay-a-way). Now, just how to get it home. Hate to pay the deliver charge - but Oh well.

277/365

Grace in Small Things
Wednesday September 1

1)Moved to my office from the front reception area
2) Found the purple earring I lost in March under the desk (I knew I would, I'm a miracle person)
3) I was Number 1 in sales at Biscuit Bucket -(hmmm, let's think about this, our store is in the top twenty in the country....hmmmmm)- for the thrid time in four weeks.
4) Heather-Be-Thy-Name leave the Bucket early. woo-hoo
5) Received a low balance credit card from Amazon. I signed up for the card when I thought I would replace the busted lens on my camera before I realized I had ordered the wrong lens! Thank God they allowed me to cancel the order. But I still got the credit card ($30 off first purchase) and since I am off credit cards because my balances are toooooooo high and I am paying them off, having a credit card is a God send for those small purchases. Have I written about my debit card being breached?y scary. Access to my bank account is no laughing matter. I will never use my debit card on line ever again. I was lucky to catch it the day of and raise hell! Like I said, I am a miracle person.

Tuesday

276/365

Grace in Small Things
Tuesday August 31

1) The movie "Signs" on tv - it was good (again)
2) Three days off from Biscuit Bucket - I needed the break
3) Was at the bank and it has this tiny parking lot. I began to back out and as I put the car in gear to go forward I noticed a car behind me had back out too and was pulling off. How we managed not to crash into each other was a miracle. Do I believe in coincidences? No, I'm a miracle kind of person.
4) Was scheduled to work at Biscuit Bucket and manager at the Mall for the same evening. The Security Chief said he would gladly work Friday night for me. Woo-hoo.
5) Got anew battery in my beloved knock-off watch.

Monday

Grace in Small Things
August 30th

1) Mrs Long Suffering returns to the office.
2) Mad Dog I is out for two days so I am in charge! Put out all the current marketing stuff in mall - I love it.
3) The phone is ringing off the hook regarding our home bases business show.
4) I wrote down as a "grace" shopping - but five days later I have no idea where I went shopping and for what!!! So, just suffice it to say, I love shopping.
5) Message from my brother about new carpet at our home in Indiana. I have mixed emotions about spending a small fortune on it, but what can I do? Someday we will return and it's tax deductable at this point.

As the Crow Flies

Sunday
August something (lol)
Grace in Small (and big) Things

1) Candi made it and accompanies me to the Marina Bar & Grill
2) Meet a good portion of the old gang from college and one who just flew in from LA and did not make it to the Animal House reunion in July.
3) It was raining that morning and all the trip to the Dock, but it was a brilliant day anyway. The rain was misty and cool.
4) I busted my very expensive camera lens. It decides when it wants to auto focus and when it does not. Bummer. Got on line and contacted Nikon and I will be able to mail it in for then to fix - I hope. It will cost a small fortune to replace.
5) My pictures taken at the Dock with the "other lens" (mama mia!) came out OK. But talk about "in your face" -

Fabulous Day

Two Hundred and Seventy Three

of three hundred and sixty five
Grace in Small Things
August 28

1) Got to sleep late as no where to go no where to be
2) Went to Goodwill - found a wonderful copy of Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee - the 20 year anniversary edition. I remember reading it in oh, 1970ish, a thick paperback that was being passed around. I miss reading. The last book I read was Once A Runner in June. I need to make time to read. Maybe stop watching mindless Trailer Park Boy episodes (I admit, some of them I watch over and over) and read one half hour daily.
3) Went to the Farmers Market and bought some lovely yellow squash and inquired about The Honey Man - he would be there Tuesday. Oh well, the honey I bought at the produce stand tastes bitter and sort of metallic. A guy told me the bees got into some wildflowers or something - honey is hard to swallow (lol)
4) Went to This Old Place antique place in a old warehouse place. Found a piggy cookie jar (it oinks when you open the lid) for $5.00 and a duck piggy bank for $2.00.
5) Made a killer banana bread from the Farmhouse Cook book. Every recipe I have tried from this collection has been spectacular and the nutmeg dark bread was a winner winner.

Friday

272/363
Grace in Small Things
August 27th

1) Had the Boat Show and they arrived in an orderly fashion
2) Received an e-mail that stated that I would have two brand new car seats donated for my Baby Show! woo-hoo
3) I looked up from my desk and my friend Candi from the Bucket walked in to visait me!
4) Talked her into going to the Marina Bar with me this coming Sunday
5) Received an e-mail from a long lost pal

271/365

Grace in Small Things
Thursday
Aug 26, 2010


1) Worked at Biscuit Bucket with the C-Lily. It's important who I end up working with there as it can make a night go by quickly or in excruciating pain. Ms. C-Lily is definitely the latter.
2) Went to Wendy's for lunch. A decedent treat.
3) Getting home from the Bucket and watching the Trailer Park Boys which I had taped on the dvr. Oh yes, and the cocktail..
4) Thank God for ATM machines
5) Friday is almost here.