Speak Up Lady!

This week Mama Kat is keeping me busy with her prompts. I'm just in bloggy overload.

Since I already did the New Years Resolution post here, I thought I would do this one also...

4.) Write a letter to someone you received poor customer service from.(inspired by Lynsey from Sassy & Southern)

Okay, I just reread this (after I already posted it) and realized that I was supposed to write a letter to someone that gave me poor customer service. I neglected to do so but instead, wrote about my poor customer service experience. And since I'm dealing with a migraine that is currently upsetting my stomach, you will all have to just deal with my lack of cooperation in my "homework assignment". Please forgive me! :o)

I'm big on customer service. I used to be in customer service for way too long, Kmart and Blockbuster Video. I learned my fair share of what it means to extend out good customer service. I felt like a pro too. I was friendly but was quick and got the customer out in a timely manner. I even had my regulars. Some who said they came just to see me. :O)

I'm glad I'm not in customer service anymore though. I had my fair share of rude people. People who looked for stuff to complain about. People who lived their life to be miserable and tried spewing it out onto me. I had my moments where I went home crying too.

With all that experience (ooooh boy!), I learned that it takes good customer service to bring the customers back. Keeping the customers coming means you keep your job. Well, some people don't look at it that why, like this lady.....

It was a summer day. My husband, daughter and I went to Lowes to pick up some items for the house. We approach the checkout where this older woman in her late 60's was standing with non other than a serious, non-friendly look.

As we set our stuff on the counter, she proceeds to start scanning the items. No "hello", no "how are you today?". NOTHING. Just scanning.

Now, at this point I'm already getting annoyed cause what's wrong with a little "hello"? Plus, I would expect such behavior from a teenager, not an older woman.

Once she was done scanning and bagging our items, she says nothing. NOTHING I tell you! I look at the register for the price and tell my husband the price. As he proceeds to counts out the money into his hand to give to the lady, that's when I look at the lady and irritatingly say to her "We have mouths, you know!"

She then takes the money, gives us the receipt and we were out of there. Without a single word from the cashier lady.

I understand people have bad days. I've had them myself and have had to tuck it away the best I could but I have never, EVER taken it out onto my customers. With the age of this woman, I would have expected better customer service from her but instead, she had proven to me that she was just like the teenagers of today. UNGRATEFUL to even have a job!

What's New for 2010?

This year, 2009, was a very challenging year for me. In fact, I would say it has been one of the hardest and most emotional ones yet. Although it had it's bad moments, something good came out of it which I am grateful for. Now it's time to turn the page and look forward to a new chapter.

With that said, we have our eyes set onto a new year and some of us may have new goals or resolutions to make. I am no different. Only different thing for me is that this year my new years resolution has nothing to do with weight. Thank. Goodness! No, this year it is a goal rather than a new years resolution. I'm tired of making resolutions that are unrealistic so I plan on making reasonable goals instead.

So, here are my goals for 2010:

~ Make my life more committed to this Awesome God we have! He has been so good to me and now that I am a mom and having a child in today's world scares me. I want her to be happy and enjoy her life. I know she will have her ups and downs but I want her to know that not only can she turn to me or her daddy but in those times we don't have the answer, she can turn to God. He will help her and get her through her trials as he has done for me. First things first though, I need to make a change and set that example so that she can see that change and want that for herself.

~Make something more of my photography. Now that I got the new editing program, Lightroom 2 for Christmas, I want to see what other things I can do. Although I'm not big on editing pictures, I feel there are some things that I can get out of this program and I look forward to exploring.

~ Not just talk about for once but actually go to Mendocino. Camera in hand. We have talked over the past few years about going here but we've never actually made it there. With me being a huge lover of the ocean, this is a place that would be so me. Recently I read a blog that had pictures of it and reminded me again why I want to go there so bad. It's not like I need to travel so far. I mean, I'm probably only a few hours away. In fact, one of our friend's go all the time so why is it so hard for us, who love to go places, having so much trouble actually getting there? No clue but this year, I plan on booking an ocean view room and enjoying some R&R!

~~~

What are your 2010 New Years Resolutions?

Head on over to Mama Kat's as this is one of her prompts this week.

All I've got to say is.....

Culture Club!

On Christmas, when my daughter came out in a mixture of her new clothes, my husband said "She looks like Culture Club!" I totally agreed too.

It wasn't until just now when I was uploading all my pictures and saw the picture. That's when I had to pull up Culture Club's Karma Chameleon on Youtube. This is what I saw....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znE6sA40lmY

You'll notice the hat, colorful scarf and the gloves. Needless to say, I couldn't stop laughing!!!

I guess my own daughter could have been an 80's child just like me. Too funny!

Scrum-dilly-umptious

We recently took a venture out to a new local frozen yogurt place. We love frozen yogurt!

It's called Scrum-dilly-umptious! Fun name, right?

Well, a couple days after taking this venture, my daughter had a dream. More like a nightmare. In this nightmare, it was night time and there was some guy standing on our driveway looking suspicious. He had apparently broken into our garage and started taking things.

As we had pulled up into our driveway, this guy came up to my driver side window and that's when I apparently asked him who he was and why he was at our house. That's when he told us his name was Scrum-dilly-umptious!

Okay, I'm sure you can imagine when my daughter is sharing her scary nightmare with me and then tells me that the guy in this said nightmare was named Scrum-dilly-umptious, that I continued to keep my composure, right? WRONG!! In fact, I busted up laughing!! Fortunately for me, so did my daughter. :D

Merry Christmas!

Even though I'm not a big fan of being in the snow, I think it would be simply lovely to at least experience Christmas once where it looked like this!

I just wanted to wish you all a beautiful and happy Christmas from my family to yours!

If you do not celebrate this holiday in particular, I wish you a happy holiday season!

Ho Ho Ho

Two and a half more hours until A Christmas Story starts!!

I'm really excited too! This is my all time favorite Christmas movie.



So much so that we were talking about looking for the rabbit pajamas for all three of us and making that our Christmas card next year.

Go ahead.....Triple Dog Dare us!

Anyways, until then....

Since it was half off, we picked up the famous leg lamp for our daughter, since she's been wanting it so bad.

Okay.....and for me too!

Christmas Photo Shoot

A couple weeks ago I attempted family picture taking for our Christmas cards. In the end, I wasn't happy. My hair was terrible and the Christmas tree behind us wasn't centered. That meant...time to go out and take my daughter and dog for a Christmas photo shoot.

We decided to go to a park in the next town over. A park I've only taken pictures of my daughter once at and that was just for a friend cause he needed to do a school project so I thought that I would try and get some pictures with my measly Sony Cybershot camera.

Anyways, it was a perfect day for pictures. It was cloudy and cold but it wasn't raining. Besides the fact that my daughter wanted to play at the park and run around with the dog, which I told her we were running out of time and needed to get to our next destination before the sun went down, I think both my subjects cooperated very well!

This one (above), made the Christmas cards this year.

Oh, and if you're wondering what's wrong with my dog's nose, it's a little red. You could say it's raw from digging under my daughter's playhouse in the backyard. Niiiice! I know.

So, the next place we went to was where I always end up......the marina area. There's just something about the delta and the old building down there.



All in all, I'm glad I had some time to get some picture taking in. It's been awhile. Also, I'm not ready for Christmas yet. I'm not ready for the warm fuzzies of this beautiful season to pass and at the same time, I still have some last minute shopping and wrapping to finish up too.

However, this is the first Christmas I will be spending without my beloved Grandma who passed this past June. Honestly, I haven't grieved completely yet. Too much was going on the week she passed. From mine and my husband's anniversary (the day after she passed), to my daughter's birthday which so happened to of been spent at my Grandma's funeral, to leaving on vacation in Vegas (2 days after the funeral). So, this Christmas I hope I can hold it together and be strong. I think I can but emotions can always creep up on us without notice. She will truly be missed. Honestly, I already miss her.

I love you Grandma! You will always be in our hearts!

With that said......it's the memories I treasure and love the most!

Just Too Young

I'm truly in complete shock over the passing of Brittney Murphy.

Not just for the fact that she is an actress and I almost feel I know some of these Hollywood people cause I totally love my movies and follow all the Hollywood stars but also for the simple fact of how young she was.

When someone so young passes away, it sometimes makes us stop and take a look at our own lives and wonder, are we doing what is best for ourselves? Also, with such a young soul, it's these moments that worry me about my own child. Here, you have this young girl who has parents of her own who I'm sure only assumed they would go before their daughter. It's just not natural for the kids to go first and I can't imagine what her parent's are going through. My heart and prayers go out to her family and friends during this very difficult time.

I really liked Brittney Murphy and her movies. She was such a cutie. She just exuded such happiness, sweetness and an innocence. It is so sad and I'll miss her on the big screen.

Six Word Saturday!

Had A Horrible Dream Last Night.

I hate when I have bad dreams. The ones that stick with you all day.

Well, mine was about.......Fire!

It went like this....

I had people over my house. It was almost like it was a holiday and we were gonna have dinner at my house. My house (in the dream) didn't look like my real house. You know how that goes. But in the dream, we were in the garage and some boy (have no idea who the heck he was) but he was cleaning up but he was spraying some kind of chemical and it was catching things on fire. He kept trying to put it out but kept spraying the chemical on to clean the area. I know, it doesn't make sense to me either.

Then, because this was happening (in my dream), I thought I better get in the house to grab all my pictures and my camera and stuff I wanted to save. Well, as I get inside the house where my mom and other people are, I notice there is a fire in there but the fire in the house was much worse. I didn't think I had enough time to grab the stuff I wanted but I attempted it anyway. Fortunately, since it was a dream, it allowed me enough time to grab what I wanted. :O)

Now, I have no idea if this dream has anything to do with the fact that I myself nearly burned my house down recently, as I shared here.

I just know now that maybe I should have a plan in place. Maybe have all my pictures in one spot so it's easy to grab.

Just my luck, that's where the fire will start.

~~~

Now it's your turn! Head on over to Cate's to participate or at the very least, see what others are saying.

I sure miss....

...being a kid this time of year. Why?

Because.....

Today my baby girl was able to go to school wearing her pj's. Her PJ's!!

Not only that, but she was able to bring a dolly or stuffed animal, pillow and blankie. Now you know she was excited about that! So excited that she had gotten all her stuff ready and in her back pack last night. Perhaps they should have more "PJ" days at school. She seems to get ready on time that way. :o)

~~~

In other news, we have a very busy weekend to look forward to.

First, Noodle needs to be at the church at 9am tomorrow morning for dress rehearsal for a Christmas program this Sunday at church. I can't wait!

I remember being a little kid doing these at my Christian school. I miss this!

Then, after that we have a birthday party to go to. Normally I would buy the gift right before the party but not this time. This time I've got the gift, wrapped and ready to go. This for me is a huge accomplishment. *pat on the back*

Then, Sunday we have Church and the Christmas program. Of course we'll have the camera and video camera ready.

After that, we have a lady coming over to meet with my husband and I for "home" reasons. Basically to try and make our lives easier. Don't we just like that?! People that can make our lives easier?! Well, I do. :o)

~~~

Yesterday we went to Lowes and started browsing the Christmas isle. They had all the decorations and stuff 50% off. I came across an ornament with the Nativity scene on it. You press a button and it plays "O holy night". Instantly I said to my husband, "I want this!" So we got it.

I've been focusing more on the reason for the season these past two years. Collecting more Nativity scene decorations. I'm trying to teach my daughter what Christmas is really about. She can enjoy the presents and Santa but at the same time, know and acknowledge that this special day is Jesus' birthday. She says Christmas is a birthday party for Jesus'. I couldn't agree more.

~~~

Later today (hopefully), I wanted to go down to Michaels and get some craft stuff. I want to do a project with my daughter this weekend. Something I did in school. Something I'm sure most of us did as a child. It was making these....


With all this Christmas stuff going on and listening to the Christmas music, I seriously miss being a kid this time of year. The joy, wonder and anticipation for Santa's arrival. Being a kid with the ideas, smells and imagination of all things Christmas. It's kind of bitter sweet to me.

Random Thoughts...

This morning I decided to go for a walk and I took my little dog toto Ozzy too!!

I realized while I was walking that when it's quiet except for the sound of passing cars, but there isn't anyone around talking, I start to just have random thoughts.

These were my random thoughts (in bold) or some things I actually said to my dog as I went for my walk...

"I hope Ozzy doesn't embarrass me"

~~~

"Not here boy. There's a car coming."

~~~

"Not here either. This is someone's house"

~~~

"Startbucks sure is busy"

~~~

"Ozzy, that was only a few dribbles. Come on."

~~~

"Hey, that's that truck I saw after dropping Noodle off at school."

~~~

As a bus passes me quickly, "Geez, that bus is massive and powerful. That would be a mess if I got hit by it." Morbid, I know.

~~~

"Come on boy. You only got a couple dribbles out of that. I'm not stopping anymore for the poles."

~~~

I say hello to a little boy (maybe 2 or 3 yrs old) who's standing at the end of his driveway saying hello to me. "Where are his parent's????"

~~~

There is a guy that visits our neighbor across the street. He drives a tow truck. We think he moved out of his house cause we never see his tow truck there anymore. Well, as I pass his house I see a woman, thinking maybe that is his wife, she's talking with another man.

"Oh yeah, he must have moved out and that is his wife?"

I notice the guy look my way, he says hello and I say hello back. Then I glance at the guy's truck

"Bridgehead Cycles. I see that truck driving home from work. hmm"

~~~

"What time is it? Yeah, we better head back home now."

~~~

So, do you ever wonder what random thoughts go through your head?

If you don't, do you now? lol

Writer's Workshop: My Life Motto

It's Mama Kat time again! If you haven't joined in the weekly fun, it's best you head on over there and participate. If nothing else, at least check out her newly designed blog. Super cute, I'll have to say!

Anyways, when I saw this weeks prompts, it was an easy decision.

2.) What is one of your life mottos?(inspired by Marcy from The Glamorous Life Association)

That's My Life Motto!

I can't think of anything better. You see, I grew up in a home where we didn't do much as a family. Most of my childhood consisted of going grocery shopping with my mom, having a few sleepovers with a couple friends, movie outings with my mom and the occasional, and I mean occasional family outing. I can remember going to Disneyland once, going to a couple state parks for the day and that's pretty much it. My mom and her best friend would have to go out of town to clean the boss' vacation home a couple hours away, which my friend and I would tag along but that was it.

Now, I'm not complaining about my childhood. Honestly, if I were to complain about it, it wouldn't be about the lack of stuff we did as a family. It would be the arguments my parent's would have all the time, but that's another story. I just wished we did more as a family. Had pictures to look back on and reminisce about the good times spent together. It just wasn't like that growing up. My brother and I spent a lot of the time playing in our rooms or outside.

Anyways, I watch my parent's today and they do nothing. They're both retired (and still young, in their 50's) but they don't go anywhere. Seriously. They maybe go out to dinner to a restaurant maybe a handful of times a year. They pretty much spend all their time at home or out in the yard doing yard work. My dad would rather spend him money on fixing the cars or buying things for the house. My mom would like to do things but my dad hurts all the time from years of construction, so that is limited. That just isn't living if you ask me though. It makes me sad to see them cooped up in that house.

Then you have my brother and his wife. Again, another couple who don't do anything. They've been together for at least 7 or 8 years now and have gone to Disneyland once. As for going out of town to spend some quality vacation time? Nothing. They are homebodies. At least my brother is.

There are other people in my life that I also see not doing much cause they too are homebodies or just the fact of money.

The way I look at it is, we are not taking our possessions with us when we pass on. There are so many beautiful places in this world to see that, what would life really be if we spent all our time at home? I almost feel it's a wasted life.

Now, I'm not saying be dangerous in order to live life to the fullest. If anything, I'm all about being safe. Sure, there are things I'll do to be adventurous such as riding the sky coaster at Six Flags or traveling at the spur of the moment. Doing things like sky diving is not in my realm of "fullness"! That's just nuts, if you ask me.

Since having my daughter 7 years ago, I wanted my daughter to see and experience all this world has to offer. We have taken her on so many family vacations and seen so much together, that she has seen more in her short life than I had seen by the time I was 21 yrs old. I just want her to have the opportunities that I never had as a child. Plus, special memories she'll have with her mommy and daddy is something no one will be able to take from her.

I just say, get out there and don't be afraid to be adventurous. There is so much to see and do and share with your loved ones. Heck, go out and do these things with the people in your life. Create memories. Those stay with us forever. Possessions only surround us.

What's your life motto?

I think it's time....

I'm in a funk. Well, my hair is, that is.

I seriously need a haircut. In fact, I mentioned here that I would like one for Christmas. It's been well over a year since I've had one and in the land of womenhood, that is un. exceptable!

A couple days ago I asked someone to put my hair doodly (that's what I call hair clips) on the counter since I had a migraine and I was not about to get up. Well, no one did so I stuck it in my pocket to avoid it getting lost.

Well, guess what? It's LOST!

I just got back from Rite Aid from picking up a new one. It's a different one cause if I found the old one, at least I have a different looking one to switch back and forth with. Well, needless to say, I'm just all annoyed all together with my hair.

And, I've opted not being in this years Christmas cards (again) cause my hair is just horrible. It looks weighed down and, well, it's just too much.

I think it's time I bit the bullet and called my friend up to get "our" new girls number to make an appointment cause THIS isn't working anymore.

A conversation....

Every time I have a conversation with either my husband or daughter, I always say "I'm gonna blog about that" yet always forget what was said.

Well, this time I remembered! Yesterday while my daughter and I were in the car, we had this conversation.

Listening to Christmas music in the car, when "A partridge in a pear tree" came on.

Me: This is John Denver.

Noodle: That's singing?

Me: Yeah

Noodle: Oh

Me: He died.

Noodle: He did?

Me: Yeah. In a plane crash in the ocean by Monterey.

Noodle: By Monterey?

Me: Yeah.

Noodle: *silence* So, is that why the Muppets have to sing it now?

Me: *busting up laughing*

I love these moments!! If only she would continue to say such silly things the rest of her life.

Christmas Traditions

We have a few traditions here in our house for the holidays.

For instance, for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas we go out to breakfast. My husband and I have been doing this since we got together 16 years ago. Once we had our daughter, what better time to continue this tradition.

For Christmas though, we have a tradition that I'm sure is common tradition for a lot of people...

Collecting an annual Christmas tree ornament!

I love ornaments and to have one that represents the year, one way or another, I enjoy getting them each year to hang on our tree.

There is no special criteria in picking our ornament but I do try to have it with the year on it however, last year we didn't get that. I just simply picked it cause it was super cute!!

Here are the last 3 years ornaments we've purchased.

*2009*

From The Dicken's Fair in S.F.

*2008*

Just a super cute reindeer!

*2007*

Lake Tahoe

What traditions do you have in your home for the holidays?

Six Word Saturday!

Oh, but baby it’s cold outside


Being here in sunny California, I don't handle the cold too well. I prefer my Spring and Summer days and nights. However, when it comes to the Christmas holiday season, it wouldn't be Christmas without some fog and rain. This is when I love it most!

Although it's a freezing 40's lately (yes, that is freezing to me. Okay, maybe even 50's also), I tend to stiffen up and can't move in this weather. Just know, if I ever move, it sure won't be somewhere where there is snow. I would be a useless person! :o)

~~~

Now it's your turn! Head on over to Cate's to participate or at the very least, see what others are saying.

Let it Snow, let it Snow, Let it Snow

Brrr, it sure has been cold outside!

Here where I live it is a rare, and I mean a rare occurance that you see snow. Well, when we woke up yesterday morning, the news was sharing the white goodness for all to see. Unfortunately it didn't actually snow in our town however, it did in the next town over in the foothills.

It was such a grand sight too! As I was driving to work, I was able to see the mountain and all the hills covered in snow. I wish I had the day off to go take pictures. What a good day it would be to go take pictures since today is normally my day off but that won't happen either. My boss had asked me a couple days ago if I could go in for 4 hours in the afternoon. I guess if I get ready I can grab my camera and try to find a good spot to get some rare pics. We'll see.

Anyways, yesterday my SIL took my daughter after school to a local state park which had some snow. My daughter had a little bit of fun there.

~~~

Okay, since writing this, I had gone out to attempt some pictures. Only problem, I waited a day too late. Clearly I didn't get the amount of snow I had previously seen the day before driving to work. I did however get the mountain full of snow, which isn't something I have never seen before, however, the mountain is usually the ending point for the snow. It never lingers out into the lower elevation areas, which I had seen the day before.

The day I took these pictures (2 days ago), I had to go to work in the afternoon so I was limited on where I could go to get pictures before having to get myself ready for work and head out, so this is the best I can do. They all looked the same so I'll only share two.

See the blue skies? Not a cloud in it either. Which means, blue skies equals snow melting away. You see, I live in California and unless you live in the mountains, you just don't see snow out here.

(If you click on the pictures, you'll see a little snow on some of the foothills. There was so much more the day before or maybe I was just in a bad spot.)

Name That Actor!

Don't you ever wonder what ever happened to your favorite actors from the sitcoms of your time?

I'm a 70's child. Growing up in the 70's and 80's, I had lots of shows that I loved watching. From the Brady Bunch to the Partridge Family to Facts of Life and Family Ties. I loved them all! But do you ever wonder what every become of some of them. The ones that you rarely see, if ever?

Well, the other day I was on the internet (what a surprise!) and I came across an article of one of those actors that you don't see often. Needless to say, he had gotten himself in all sorts of trouble. In fact, I was shocked to see what this person looked like after all these years.

Can you guess who this is?

Did you guess right?

Michael J. Fox's little brother on Family Ties.

Isn't it amazing that you can go from cute to scary?