When I pulled up to the house where the family that I babysit for has recently moved and noticed the gray truck outside, I knew it meant one thing -- David, the college-aged son of my boss Janice, was back. Despite the fact that David has always been nothing but nice to me, I still hated to see that he followed the family from the old house to the new one.
David is lazy and irresponsible (the fact that Janice has to hire a babysitter to take care of the kids when there is a grown man living in the house rent free should tell you something.) In addition, the kids and I feel more relaxed when he is not there. The boys can have the run of the house without fear of being yelled at for simply being kids. Not having David there would have made all of our lives a little more pleasant.
After going inside and getting settled in my room, I pull out my cell phone and send The Boyfriend a text message that reads: "David is back. Ugh."
Sixty seconds later, as I'm talking to Janice in her bedroom, her cell phone makes a noise. She removes it from her purse, flips it open and begins reading.
"Did you send this to me?" she asks, " 'David is back. Ugh.' "
I gasp the mother of all gasps. After sucking all of the oxygen out of the room, I cover my mouth to hold it in for a moment before releasing it.
"Did I send that to YOU?!?" I exclaim as air rushes out again.
Janice chuckles. "Yes, you did but that's okay. I feel the same way."
We proceed to have a good laugh (I'm SO glad she has a sense of humor about the whole thing) and she went on to explain how she loves her son but hates it when he's an ass and wishes he was out of the house too. She also added that he is only staying temporarily while he looks for a second job. I was relieved to hear that.
Janice should consider herself lucky that the text I sent her only contained disparaging remarks about her son. I could have accidentally sent her one of those naughty messages that I'm prone to sending The Boyfriend. Talk about embarrassing.
I can hear it now -- You wanna do what to me?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
C.S.I. Grizzbabe's World
I had gotten to work at my normal time that morning carrying my usual breakfast that I have on workdays that follow a night of babysitting - a sausage biscuit and a large orange juice. Nothing about the morning seemed unusual. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping. Everything pointed toward a typical start to a typical day.
Even the front door of the office being unlocked and slightly ajar didn't immediately strike me as odd. The graphic artists have been known to leave the back door unlocked after a late night at the office. I just figured that this time they decided to change things up a bit by leaving the front door unsecured.
After rolling my eyes at the absentmindedness of our staff, I walked through the door, sat down at my desk and proceeded to consume my breakfast, just like I do every morning. Little did I know that this would not be a typical morning.
About 15 minutes later, my co-worker, Martha, called. I recount to her my experience of finding the office door unlocked and we both reasoned that the graphic artists, having spent an exhausting night of production trying to make deadline, must have inadvertently left the door open.
As I'm talking to Martha, I get a funny feeling. It was a familiar sensation similar to the one I had when I lost my house key as a kid and got a hunch to open the freezer door. To my amazement, I found the key suspended in a small block of ice in an ice cube tray.
This time the hunch was telling me to open my right desk drawer and look in the petty cash bin. I obeyed because my intuition has yet to steer me wrong.
The bin was empty. The only thing that was left were some receipts.
I spin my chair around and opened the left desk drawer. The cash for the payment of several small ads was missing as well.
I sunk in my chair as the realization set in. We had been burgled.
I said goodbye to Martha and immediately called the local police department. They arrived surprisingly quickly. At first I thought it was because the police station is so close to our office but in actuality they were already in the office complex investigating other burglaries.
Despite the fact that there were multiple burglaries in the area that occurred on the same night, I felt rather uneasy. Our burglary seemed to differ from the other burglaries because there appeared to be no sign of forced entry. Entrance to the other offices had been gained by prying open the door. It was obvious by looking at our door that no prying had taken place.
I began to fear that The Controller, who already looks at me suspiciously, would blame me for the missing money. After all, I'm the one who controls the petty cash bin and accepts money for ads. Couple that with the accounting-gate incident and I felt like I would be a prime suspect.
Fortunately, once the crime scene investigator got there and did a more thorough examination of the premises, it was discovered that entry had been gained through a window. The window was open and there were pry marks on the outside sash.
We didn't immediately notice the open window because the purps had returned the blinds to the down position - just as they had found them. In addition there was a huge desk in front of that window that had to be moved in order to enter the building. The desk had been returned to it's rightful place as well. We are so fortunate to have had such considerate burglars.
We are also fortunate that only about $100 in cash was taken. It could have been a lot worse. They could have chosen to wipe us out completely by taking our computers as well. Not only would that have been a bigger financial loss but it also would have created an administrative nightmare. It's even possible that the paper may not have been printed that week.
The incident was good for adding a little excitement to our day though. We watched as the detectives dusted the window for fingerprints and took photographs. I also got to yell, "Don't touch anything!" to everyone who walked through the door. It was all very CSI.
Despite the diligence of the investigators, I doubt they will find the people who broke into our building and 4 other offices in our complex. There's simply not much information to go on and I'm sure they have bigger fish to fry (not to mention lots of donuts to eat).
The burglary did serve as a not-so-subtle reminder that there's never a dull moment at my company. Whether it's financial scandals, tawdry affairs, conspiracies or criminal activity, there's always excitement to be had in Grizzbabe's World.
Even the front door of the office being unlocked and slightly ajar didn't immediately strike me as odd. The graphic artists have been known to leave the back door unlocked after a late night at the office. I just figured that this time they decided to change things up a bit by leaving the front door unsecured.
After rolling my eyes at the absentmindedness of our staff, I walked through the door, sat down at my desk and proceeded to consume my breakfast, just like I do every morning. Little did I know that this would not be a typical morning.
About 15 minutes later, my co-worker, Martha, called. I recount to her my experience of finding the office door unlocked and we both reasoned that the graphic artists, having spent an exhausting night of production trying to make deadline, must have inadvertently left the door open.
As I'm talking to Martha, I get a funny feeling. It was a familiar sensation similar to the one I had when I lost my house key as a kid and got a hunch to open the freezer door. To my amazement, I found the key suspended in a small block of ice in an ice cube tray.
This time the hunch was telling me to open my right desk drawer and look in the petty cash bin. I obeyed because my intuition has yet to steer me wrong.
The bin was empty. The only thing that was left were some receipts.
I spin my chair around and opened the left desk drawer. The cash for the payment of several small ads was missing as well.
I sunk in my chair as the realization set in. We had been burgled.
I said goodbye to Martha and immediately called the local police department. They arrived surprisingly quickly. At first I thought it was because the police station is so close to our office but in actuality they were already in the office complex investigating other burglaries.
Despite the fact that there were multiple burglaries in the area that occurred on the same night, I felt rather uneasy. Our burglary seemed to differ from the other burglaries because there appeared to be no sign of forced entry. Entrance to the other offices had been gained by prying open the door. It was obvious by looking at our door that no prying had taken place.
I began to fear that The Controller, who already looks at me suspiciously, would blame me for the missing money. After all, I'm the one who controls the petty cash bin and accepts money for ads. Couple that with the accounting-gate incident and I felt like I would be a prime suspect.
Fortunately, once the crime scene investigator got there and did a more thorough examination of the premises, it was discovered that entry had been gained through a window. The window was open and there were pry marks on the outside sash.
We didn't immediately notice the open window because the purps had returned the blinds to the down position - just as they had found them. In addition there was a huge desk in front of that window that had to be moved in order to enter the building. The desk had been returned to it's rightful place as well. We are so fortunate to have had such considerate burglars.
We are also fortunate that only about $100 in cash was taken. It could have been a lot worse. They could have chosen to wipe us out completely by taking our computers as well. Not only would that have been a bigger financial loss but it also would have created an administrative nightmare. It's even possible that the paper may not have been printed that week.
The incident was good for adding a little excitement to our day though. We watched as the detectives dusted the window for fingerprints and took photographs. I also got to yell, "Don't touch anything!" to everyone who walked through the door. It was all very CSI.
Despite the diligence of the investigators, I doubt they will find the people who broke into our building and 4 other offices in our complex. There's simply not much information to go on and I'm sure they have bigger fish to fry (not to mention lots of donuts to eat).
The burglary did serve as a not-so-subtle reminder that there's never a dull moment at my company. Whether it's financial scandals, tawdry affairs, conspiracies or criminal activity, there's always excitement to be had in Grizzbabe's World.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Doubts, the conclusion
Parts 1 and 2 can be found here and here.
Oh my God, he's touching me!, I screamed silently. Some strange guy from Chicago that I hardly knew and who wears white socks inappropriately had invaded my personal space and was touching me in an intimate way. This was one of the weirdest feelings that I've had in a long time. And not in a good way.
The Boyfriend sensed my uneasiness but he was undeterred. He kept his arm around me for the duration of the movie. And I allowed him to mainly because I believed that the only way to get over the uncomfortable feeling of being touched by someone I hardly knew was to allow someone I hardly knew to touch me.
You would think that on our next "date", when I vistied him in Chicago, I would have been more relaxed. And I was at first. I remember sitting with The Boyfriend on a loveseat in my hotel room. I had my arm stretched out over the top of the couch and The Boyfriend's arm was on top of mine and wrapped around my shoulders. I distinctly remember thinking , This is not so bad. I kinda like this. I felt as if I was having a breakthrough and that I might finally turn into a normal person. As it turned out, my breakthrough was very short-lived.
The next day while we were waiting for the train to take us to downtown Chicago, The Boyfriend, being convinced that it was now safe to touch me (silly boy!), put his arm around me again. For some unknown reason, I had a flashback. I tensed up and repeated that freakout scene that occured in my living room a few months before. I wanted to yell "Stop touching me!!" at the top of my lungs. I believe The Boyfriend must be a mind reader because he immediately pulled his arm away.
What would cause me to want to react so violently to The Boyfriend's show of affection when I had been fine with it the day before? I don't know. The only explanation I can offer is that I'm a fruitcake in need of serious medical attention.
Fortunately, my uncomfortableness in The Boyfriend's presence eventually went away. As I spent more time getting to know him, I began to want to be close to him and express myself physically. Now, I can't keep my hands off of him and I want some part of his body touching me at all times.
Wow, I'm amazed at how far I've come. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get to this point. It took some time, more than most people need, but I am finally able to relax around The Boyfriend and not only let him touch me in an intimate manner but allow him into the deepest areas of my soul.
It seems the doubts have disappeared.
Oh my God, he's touching me!, I screamed silently. Some strange guy from Chicago that I hardly knew and who wears white socks inappropriately had invaded my personal space and was touching me in an intimate way. This was one of the weirdest feelings that I've had in a long time. And not in a good way.
The Boyfriend sensed my uneasiness but he was undeterred. He kept his arm around me for the duration of the movie. And I allowed him to mainly because I believed that the only way to get over the uncomfortable feeling of being touched by someone I hardly knew was to allow someone I hardly knew to touch me.
You would think that on our next "date", when I vistied him in Chicago, I would have been more relaxed. And I was at first. I remember sitting with The Boyfriend on a loveseat in my hotel room. I had my arm stretched out over the top of the couch and The Boyfriend's arm was on top of mine and wrapped around my shoulders. I distinctly remember thinking , This is not so bad. I kinda like this. I felt as if I was having a breakthrough and that I might finally turn into a normal person. As it turned out, my breakthrough was very short-lived.
The next day while we were waiting for the train to take us to downtown Chicago, The Boyfriend, being convinced that it was now safe to touch me (silly boy!), put his arm around me again. For some unknown reason, I had a flashback. I tensed up and repeated that freakout scene that occured in my living room a few months before. I wanted to yell "Stop touching me!!" at the top of my lungs. I believe The Boyfriend must be a mind reader because he immediately pulled his arm away.
What would cause me to want to react so violently to The Boyfriend's show of affection when I had been fine with it the day before? I don't know. The only explanation I can offer is that I'm a fruitcake in need of serious medical attention.
Fortunately, my uncomfortableness in The Boyfriend's presence eventually went away. As I spent more time getting to know him, I began to want to be close to him and express myself physically. Now, I can't keep my hands off of him and I want some part of his body touching me at all times.
Wow, I'm amazed at how far I've come. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get to this point. It took some time, more than most people need, but I am finally able to relax around The Boyfriend and not only let him touch me in an intimate manner but allow him into the deepest areas of my soul.
It seems the doubts have disappeared.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
I KNEW there was something in my attic!
Almost a year ago, I wrote a post proclaiming that something, I didn't know what, had taken up residence in my attic. Well, I've finally discovered what loathsome, mythical creatures have chosen to make my home their permanent abode.
Last night, as I am talking to The Boyfriend on the phone, I suddenly realize that I hear birds. They are chirping. Loudly. And at midnight. I am accustomed to hearing birds chirp at ungodly hours but never before the sun's up. It was rather strange, like living in a place that's cold in the Summer and warm in the Winter. The laws of nature, as I understood them, seemed as if they were being violated. I chalked the noises up to my bedroom being in close proximity to the Bradford Pear tree in my back yard and continued my conversation.
This morning, I was about to get in my car and head to the office when something told me to walk to the side of the house and inspect the outside wall of my guest bedroom. I spend a lot of time in that room on my computer and that is where I hear noises most often.
Well, Mother Nature must have read my mind because as I'm coming around the corner, I see 3 or 4 black birds flying hurriedly out of a huge hole in the eave of my house. The wood looked as if it had been peeled back like a banana. I walked a little closer and I swear I could see the eyes of another bird hiding in the hole praying to that bitch Mother Nature that I wouldn't notice him.
My first instinct was to scare him and any of his remaining friends out of the attic but I've seen that Alfred Hitchcock movie. I know what their kind did to Tippi Hedren and I wanted no part of that. Scaredy cat that I am, I tiptoed back to my car and left for work.
I realize this is a situation that I can't ignore. These critters, over time, could do some serious damage to my house if they haven't already. Unfortunately, I have no intention of going up in the attic and forcibly removing the birds from the premises. I have every intention of hiring someone else to do it for me. Then I have to get the hole in my eave fixed. If all goes well, maybe I won't be so afraid to go in my own attic anymore.
Oh, who am I kidding!
Last night, as I am talking to The Boyfriend on the phone, I suddenly realize that I hear birds. They are chirping. Loudly. And at midnight. I am accustomed to hearing birds chirp at ungodly hours but never before the sun's up. It was rather strange, like living in a place that's cold in the Summer and warm in the Winter. The laws of nature, as I understood them, seemed as if they were being violated. I chalked the noises up to my bedroom being in close proximity to the Bradford Pear tree in my back yard and continued my conversation.
This morning, I was about to get in my car and head to the office when something told me to walk to the side of the house and inspect the outside wall of my guest bedroom. I spend a lot of time in that room on my computer and that is where I hear noises most often.
Well, Mother Nature must have read my mind because as I'm coming around the corner, I see 3 or 4 black birds flying hurriedly out of a huge hole in the eave of my house. The wood looked as if it had been peeled back like a banana. I walked a little closer and I swear I could see the eyes of another bird hiding in the hole praying to that bitch Mother Nature that I wouldn't notice him.
My first instinct was to scare him and any of his remaining friends out of the attic but I've seen that Alfred Hitchcock movie. I know what their kind did to Tippi Hedren and I wanted no part of that. Scaredy cat that I am, I tiptoed back to my car and left for work.
I realize this is a situation that I can't ignore. These critters, over time, could do some serious damage to my house if they haven't already. Unfortunately, I have no intention of going up in the attic and forcibly removing the birds from the premises. I have every intention of hiring someone else to do it for me. Then I have to get the hole in my eave fixed. If all goes well, maybe I won't be so afraid to go in my own attic anymore.
Oh, who am I kidding!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
A poisoning of the mind
I had a very lazy day Sunday. So lazy in fact, that I didn't turn on my stove once to cook a meal, unusual for someone who loves to putter around in the kitchen. Instead, I opted to make fast food my main form of sustenance. I had a steak and biscuit from Mrs. Winners for breakfast and fish from Captain D's for dinner.
There was one odd thing about my fish dinner. When I picked up one of the last remaining fries and put it in my mouth, I noticed that it was cold, colder than the rest of the fries, and wet. Not wet like it was a victim of condensation from being on the bottom of a pile of hot fries but wet like it had come in contact with some sort of contaminate. At least that's what my overactive imagination thought. I took the fry out of my mouth and placed it back in the styrofoam container and finished the rest of my meal.
I felt fine for the rest of the evening but when I woke up Monday morning, I didn't feel so hot. I was extremely nauseous and I had an unusual pain in my abdomen that I would later identify as stomach cramps. I dragged myself to work but left the office around 11:30, went home and promptly collapsed in my bed.
My symptoms (nausea, stomach cramps, low grade fever, chills) and the suspect fry all pointed to food poisoning. As the evening progressed, the stomach cramps became less severe and save for an occasional reminder, they have all but disappeared. Today, however, the diarrhea has started. Fun.
I probably could have been a trooper and gone into work despite the fact that I still don't feel my best but I decided to stay home an extra day to give myself a chance to heal completely and to get some much needed rest. It's a shame that I wait until my body violently revolts against me before I allow myself to take time off from my 3 jobs. Surely, that must be some sort of sickness too.
There was one odd thing about my fish dinner. When I picked up one of the last remaining fries and put it in my mouth, I noticed that it was cold, colder than the rest of the fries, and wet. Not wet like it was a victim of condensation from being on the bottom of a pile of hot fries but wet like it had come in contact with some sort of contaminate. At least that's what my overactive imagination thought. I took the fry out of my mouth and placed it back in the styrofoam container and finished the rest of my meal.
I felt fine for the rest of the evening but when I woke up Monday morning, I didn't feel so hot. I was extremely nauseous and I had an unusual pain in my abdomen that I would later identify as stomach cramps. I dragged myself to work but left the office around 11:30, went home and promptly collapsed in my bed.
My symptoms (nausea, stomach cramps, low grade fever, chills) and the suspect fry all pointed to food poisoning. As the evening progressed, the stomach cramps became less severe and save for an occasional reminder, they have all but disappeared. Today, however, the diarrhea has started. Fun.
I probably could have been a trooper and gone into work despite the fact that I still don't feel my best but I decided to stay home an extra day to give myself a chance to heal completely and to get some much needed rest. It's a shame that I wait until my body violently revolts against me before I allow myself to take time off from my 3 jobs. Surely, that must be some sort of sickness too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)