Jul
27
2009
Lately it seems every street corner has someone holding a sign. You know what I’m talking about. People are paid to hold signs for stores that want more notice.
- There’s the guy dressed in a gold lame suit, with a sparkly gold hat and gold shoes, holding a sign that says (guess what?) “gold.” He’s waving that sign and pushing the gold.
- There’s the guy in the bright yellow banana suit promoting the local smoothie shop. Jumping, dancing and moving to his music.
- The pet store has someone wearing a brow, furry dog costume, promoting “Nut N But Puppies.” The dog dances around and waves. I usually honk the horn in support.
- The apartment complex sign holder is spinning that sign like Tom Cruise tossed liquour bottles around in the movie, “Cocktail.”
- Then, there’s the sub guy. The one who you can tell doesn’t want to be there. Sure, it’s hot as Hell out there, but he’s got his ear buds in and he’s just standing on the roadside holding that pathetic sign. Really makes me want to go run in a get a sub from the place where the owner makes his employees begrudgingly hold signs.
If you have a job make the most of it.
I was watching “Parking Wars” the other night. It shows how people get parking tickets in big cities and what happens when they have to go pay for the ticket. Pretty interesting voyeurism here. In an episode the other night, there was this woman, the meter reader, who was giving people tickets left and right — it was her job. Every time she saw a violation she had to plant a ticket on the windshield of that car. Man, did she make some people mad. They yell at her, point fingers and say it’s “blood on her hands.”
She explained that it’s her job. And, what a bad job it is, she continues. It provides insurance and food for my kids. Yeah, really bad job, she says.
She’s right.
We all need to make the most of our jobs. You may not be happy with your job today or even this month, but what is it providing for you? If you really don’t like it, get a new job. If you say, just consider this:
Do you want to be seen as the guy in the banana suit or the one holding the sub sign?
Jul
21
2009
Should I be offended that people are dissin’ the President of our united states for wearing “mom jeans“? What’s all this hub-bub about anyway?
Apparently, mom jeans are unflattering – they have pleats, are old and/or faded, are tapered and have a high waist. Sounds like the ’80s.
So, should I stick up for moms here and say this is absurd to compare old, tired jeans with mothers who work so hard to feed and protect our families? Or, do I say, who cares what we wear — as long as it’s comfortable?
In the end, just quit pickin on moms. If it’s good enough for the President, it’s good enough for me.
Jul
21
2009
As I drive to work each morning I pass people waiting for the bus. Orlando is not known for excellent public transportation, but transportation it is. On the bus, it could take two hours to get from one location to the next — something that might only take 30 minutes by car. Add to that, the heat and the summer showers, and riding the bus in Florida just isn’t a fun thing to do.
Many days I see families, parents with small kids and bags of groceries in their arms. Headed home, I suppose. A family without working transportation.
How lucky am I that I am strutting around in my big, red SUV? I balk when gas prices rise, but I can still afford my automobile. I have something to cart my two kids around, while others are waiting in the heat, rain or both to take a long, smelly ride home.
There’s always something to be grateful for.
Today it’s my car. But, what if I was the one without the car. Maybe I was someone taking a bike to work. But the person riding the bike to work might be grateful they have a bike and don’ thave to walk to work. The person who is walking to work, might be grateful for his legs.
What about the homeless man who sits in a wheelchair because he only has one leg? He holds a cup out for money from his wheelchair each morning at the stop light of the major intersection while passersby sip Starbucks from our large, fancy cars with air conditioning. Maybe he’s grateful that some of these people are kind enough to share their wealth with him on this day. Maybe he’s grateful he has one leg instead of none.
There’s always something to be thankful for. Take a look around.
Jul
20
2009
** SPOILER ALERT: The Next Food Network Star **
OK, now that you’re past the spoiler alert I can tell you that I really, really, really want Melissa to win “The Next Food Network Star.” I think, she’s the only mom that got on the show this season and because of this, I think she has a lot to offer.
She doesn’t have formal cooking training, and I don’t even think she’s the best cook left on the show, BUT I think she’s honest and a has tremendous talent in the kitchen. I think I can trust her. I can’t say that for Debbie. It may be how they have edited her, but it just seems something isn’t right. Like she’s purposely thrown her competitors under the bus. If she were on “Big Brother” or “Survivor,” I say good for you, but on The Next Food Network Star I want to see the real person.
Jeffery is a Dad, but cooks like he doesn’t have kids — or at least he doesn’t really talk about them like Melissa mentions her children. While I appreciate him being a father, I think Melissa can speak to me as a mom who has a hard time getting meals cooked and on the table. I want to learn to do more than mac and cheese for my kids, but have the meal be just as appealing to them.
Melissa is a mom of four so I know she has her challenges getting food on the table. She says she’s been a working mom and a stay at home mom — bonus, she knows both sides of the specrum and won’t playcate to one mom group.
Let’s hear it for the Mom and hope she wins!
