Small World

So, my colleague and I believe friend (even thought I am old enough to be her mother) took a trip to Texas recently. As everyone knows Texas is a BIG state. I used to live in Texas from March 1987 until June 1992.

I lived in Edinburg which is next to McAllen and where does my colleague and friend visit??? A wild guess here everyone lol? McAllen talk about a small world. She went to visit her grandparents. I do believe she was the youngest one everywhere she went, but that is okay. I thought this was just too interesting not to share even though I am probably the only one who cares. LOL

I miss living in Texas (at least the part I lived in). I hate winter weather, the people where I lived were nice and friendly and would help just because you needed help. I do not know if that is still true, but it was while I was there.

First Flowers in Bloom At My House-- 26 March 2008

These were taken just outside our front door under the evergreen bushes.

I hope you like them.

Ok I stopped into my bookstore job today after working with the Easter Bunny and my friend and colleague went and made a comment about how she was waddling.

Of course my first thought was waddle like a duck. LOL

Ok Ok I know that was a terrible thing to think of first, but you know you just can not help what pops into your feeble mind sometimes.

So, of course she said something about my posting a picture of a duck with some comment about her. So, of course I had to oblige her. LOL LOL LOL

Sorry Lori.

Besides I always thought duckies were kind of cute and hey Sunday is Easter and they do kind of go together.

Easter Bunny and Parents

I did not even checked this yesterday or today because I have been sick. There is some kind of bug going around where I live and let us just say it is too painful to mention. Saturday I washed my hands soooo much that they actually stayed all pruney (I know that is not a word--but it is actually a good description). You know how your skin gets if you stay in the water too long. That is bad. LOL It's almost over. I am doing much better today. I only took 1 pill instead of the usual 2 and only 1 time so far. So, I know I am doing better. I actually want to attempt to eat, which definitely says a lot. LOL.

I have been helping out the local Easter Bunny this past week and this week. Today is my only day off this week, but I will survive. It has been kind of fun, but not as much as I thought it would be. I am only work 3 short shifts so it is not too bad. People think nothing of spending $50.00 to $70.00 every week or two on a video game for their kids, but grumble about $20.00 to have their kid's picture taken with the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus. Seriously what is more important a real lasting memory with a picture or some stupid game they will be bored with in a couple of weeks?

Some people's priorities are really screwed up. Some lady did not want to pay the $20.00 to have her kid's picture taken even though the kid was dressed up for it and the kid stood there and cried. Meanwhile, she had about 5 or 6 bags from the most expensive stores in the mall and they were so called "women's" stores. One was an expensive shoe store, two were expensive women's clothing stores, and others.

Seriously what is more important another pair of shoes or top that will probably be worn a couple of times or not at all or a really good memory for you child? This kid was old enough to have permanent memories. What would you remember? A fun memory with the Easter Bunny or mom saying no because she does not want to pay for the picture while she has all these items that she just bought?

My mom and I fight all the time, but she always took me to see Santa (the Easter Bunny was not around here at the time when I was growing up) even when we had no money. Our Santa was in a little trailer at a shopping center when I was a kid. The mall did not get built until I was in high school. She always stood outside in the cold and somehow found the money to have my picture taken.

Why??? Because that is what a good parent does. They put their children before products. My mom always took me to the parade on Independance Day, to see Santa, even to the movies (all stuff she really did not enjoy doing by the way). Except when Snow White was playing because she wanted to see that one again in the theater lol.

So, much of my childhood was about bad things that she tried to do what normal kids did as much as she could. It was not easy with my father and one brother the way they were.

more to come.....

Janet Neubauer--Picture added

I just wanted to do a quick update. Today I learned that one of my favorite customers died last night. She considered the store manager, assistant manager, another keyholder and I friends. Her one daughter and her sometimes called us family. This customer knew how hard it can be to work in a store with little help and pay definitely not equal to the people who make the things that we sell. We in retail get little thanks from customers, sometimes friends and family too, so when one goes out of their way to make you, the retail clerk, feel appreciated it makes one's heart glad.

She will definitely be missed because of how she treated us with respect, understanding, and love. She would go in streaks with how much she had available to spend, but would shop with us when she could. There are customers who would routinely spend more than her and her family, but her whole family always thanked us for taking time to talk to them, to give them words of encouragement or when we would try to find interesting new books or authors for them to try.

It's not always about the money. It's mostly about respect and feeling appreciated.

JANET YOU WILL BE MISSED AND YOU WILL BE THOUGHT OF!!!