NOTHING ON THE BRAIN TODAY

Nothing to blog about - already? I just started over a week ago. Is this what you call “writer’s block?” I was so excited about this whole thing. All sorts of ideas going through my head. “I’ll write about this, no, I’ll write about that.” “Jot down on a piece of paper all of the subjects you intend to write about.” Going down the street, things running through my mind – excitement overtaking me. As soon as I get my browser at home updated, I will start to blog. Then my son, knowing how anxious I am to start, decides to set me up at work. “Finally, I think – this is going to be wonderful – I can get things off the old mind and write them down so that others can read them.” After blogging a few times, today, I get to my desk, do some work and then – now it’s time to blog. “Wait a minute, wait a minute – what am I going to say”? “Oh I know, I’ll talk about this – no, can’t piece that together right now” – another idea comes to mind – “yeah, that will be okay,” but the words are stuck out there somewhere, but not in my brain. Discouragement – what is this? Then I say to myself – “self, you like to write poems don’t you?” – “Sure—I will write a poem”. Did I just answer myself – does this mean I am really crazy?” Let’s just say a little confused. That’s what we will call it. “Anywho” no poem coming to mind – not motivated, so I’ll just write about the nothing to talk about dilemma. Until next week….

THE PROMOTION!

My job in some ways is inspiring to me because I have the pleasure of interacting with our clients during the day. I work in a day treatment gender specific program for at-risk girls. I am a great lover of kids of all ages and enjoy my experiences with them. The catch is I’m not a counselor or a teacher and do not have to impose consequences on them. Instead, being an administrative assistant, I get to be a positive and lovable influence on them so they think I am cool. What am I saying? I am cool, plus you have to be somewhat of a kid yourself, and that would be me.

I get to greet them every morning when they come in, and give them hugs and encouragement, by letting them know how much I care and want to see them obtain their goals. They in turn become attached to me and vice versa.

During my tenure here, I have worked in several different locations as the program has grown over the years. We also serve many at risk boys in many different kinds of program settings.

My first ten to twelve years on the job, the kids began calling me “mom.” It was such a pleasure to be referred to as “mom,” and even the parents/guardians got a kick out of it. It started with a red-head boy who was able to sense my interest in his success in the program. He started calling me mom, and it caught on and continued over the years.

I am now of course older, and as the years have gone by, I have continued to enjoy my involvement with the kids and they with me. I have always had a sense of humor and we share laughs and the crazies. It’s easy when you are not a threat. Often times, I may get too involved and have to have a little conversation with my superiors about becoming too attached, but that’s me (it doesn’t get me in too much trouble), I have been in fact “everyone’s mother,” even my co-workers no matter how old they are and they all know it.

During the past few months, my involvement with the girls have included, walking at the lake during their gym and my lunch break, going to the YMCA on other days, etc., One day I realized that I have been promoted. Are you ready for this one? One of my girls started to call me “granny,” and guess what? It has caught on. WHAT A PROMOTION!!! Of course as far as my 22-year old granddaughter is concerned, I am about to get the ultimate promotion! Grr – grr ---gr--- (gee, I’m having trouble getting it out). Okay, it’s coming, here it comes – Greeeeat Grandma – ohhh that was hard but it finally forced it's way out.

MY GRANDKIDS THE HUSTLERS?????

My youngest son e-mailed me this story a while back and gave me permission to share it on my blog. It goes like this:

"My kids are hustlers, mom, and they are some real pros at it too--especially Olivia. Here's what happened: Shawnee was invited to a wedding this past weekend. Olivia wanted to go to the wedding and Madison wanted to hang with her dad, so Dooie (Madison) and I kicked it. While she was with me, I let her help me work my third job, and for helping me, I gave her five dollars. The next day, Shawnee, the kids and I all went to Target. As soon as we got there, Madison told Livy (Olivia) that I gave her five dollars. Livy starts to tear up and asks "can I have five dollars too?" I told her Madison earned her five dollars and that she could have earned some money too but she wanted to hang with mom, and Madison hung with dad and ended up getting five dollars. I told her I'd have to find a way for her to earn money too, but I wasn't going to just give her some money because I didn't want her to think she could "pimp" me like that. I told her "no," not today." Olivia gave me this look; her eyes were all teary...she was working me! I told her "no," that's not going to work.. you're not going to make me feel guilty," so all the time we were at Target, I was feeling guilty. Madison went to the toy isle and picked out a toy. After she got her toy, Olivia started to pile it on. She gave me the teary eyes and the shaking lips. I said "sorry Livy, you can't get something for nothing." "Nothing in life is free...we all face trad offs!" With her lips still shaking, she looked me right in the eyes. "If I were to buy you something what would you want,? said the hustled dad...ha, ha, ha Olivia KNOWS she can pimp me too! She's really good at it. Oh Madison worked me a little too. I gave her five dollars, so what does she do? picks out a toy that costs $15.00. "Mommy said to ask you if I could get this toy..it's an extra ten dollars." I was like, "y'all think you got it like that!" They KNOW they have it like that. They both ended up getting what they wanted. I really didn't mind. I like being in the position where I can buy them things. I don't like being "rammed" but hey, they know how to work me.

While reading this e-mail, I was cracking up. Madison and Olivia are two really adorable little girls. Madison is 11, and Olivia is seven. My youngest son, yet another comedian, is Gary (Butchy), and his wife is Shawnee. Wouldn't you say he is a chip off the old block? ha, ha

The "NO" dilemma

The “NO” dilemma:

I have a problem with telling people “no,” and when I do, it doesn’t stick. I am an easy going, soft hearted pushover. It must be written all over me. Here are some examples of what I am talking about:

“The hinter” Last Friday a co-worker comes into my office – “Are you going to leave the building anytime soon?” I say “no.” She says “I forgot to bring my Pepsi today and I really need to have it.” I say nothing. She leaves and comes back – “I don’t know what I’m going to do without my Pepsi,” (you see it’s early morning and she only has about 20 minutes for lunch and is an employee for the school system. I am employed by the organization and have a longer more flexible lunch break and can leave whenever. I made a small comment and went on with my work. After about three or four more visits to my office, hinting again, I finally gave in and said – “do you want me to go get one for you?” “Oh I don’t want you to have to make an extra trip, only if you are planning to leave the building.” (I have already told her I wasn’t leaving the building). Back again for another visit – “I really need my Pepsi.” Again I say "do you want me to go get it?" “Are you sure?” I said “yes,” “oh thank you, please get me a big mouth diet Pepsi.” So here I go with the word “sucker” written all over my face.

The “I need help” person. I am at my desk typing or transcribing, etc. Someone comes to the copy machine and starts to have trouble – jams, etc. “Oh, this thing is not acting right.” (I pay no attention because I am thinking they can handle it themselves). They continue to try and copy, all the while complaining out loud until finally, I get up and help them – easy enough.

The “What part of “no” do you not understand?” person. There is a guy in the office who likes to bring coupons for all to share. He asked if I would separate them in date order and put them in a box and into the teachers’ lounge. I agreed (I was having some down time). After a while, my work started to pile up and I tell him I can’t do this anymore – he’s alright with it. However, every week when I come to work, there are still coupons on my desk to be sorted. “Remember, I said I don’t have time to do this anymore?” “Yes, I remember.” Guess what? The coupons are still coming with his comment, “more coupons for you.”

“The “Guilt Trip on myself”: The phone rings – “Hello grandma” “Hi – how are you?” “Fine, my granddaughter stated.” We have a short conversation then on to the question.
Grandma could you help me pay for the rest of my prom dress?” When do you need the money?” I have to have it by Monday?” “I’m sorry, I’m broke – have to make my house payment.” “She lingers a bit in disappointment and says “okay.” I get off of the phone and am visited by Mr. Guilt. “Well I think – her birthday just passed and I haven’t gotten her anything yet. Phone call to Granddaughter: “Hi Jheris” She says “Hi Grandma in her sweet way.” “I just remembered I still owe you some money for your birthday – I will give it to you tomorrow.” “Thanks Grandma.” (She knows I’m a pushover for her). .

WHAT AN ORDEAL!

This day has been an ordeal. I e-mailed my son yesterday telling him how anxious I was to start a blog. "I'll sign you up, he said. I had already typed something on the computer that I wanted to put on my blog. Donny, as I call him, e-mailed me today with instructions on how to find my blog. Well, I went into my blog sight and there was my post from yesterday. Okay, this is simple, I will start to blog. This was around 8:00 a.m. I took out his instructions and started, I was so excited! His instructions said that once I am in, its pretty explanatory on how to post. Then he tells me to have fun! oh boy this is it, I think. I got in alright but I kept running into roadblocks. "Donny" it won't let me start -- what shall I do?" "Did you get my instructions?" he asks. "Yes I got your instructions but I can't get into it. He e-mails me back with numbered instructions -- oh so you think I need to have step-by-step instructions, eh? (I really did but I didn't want him to know it). Oh yeah, I have two comments -- I guess I will read them and answer back -- do you think that worked -- no! Well ol girl, back to the old drawing board. I am at work and people keep coming to my desk interrupting me with questions, wanting to talk, phone ringing (which happens to be part of my job). I must get into this blog. I have so many things to say. It's getting close to time for me to leave and go to a fourth funeral in five weeks. I have to drop something off at North High and try to get to the funeral, but that's another story which I will tell in another blog. Oh by the way, the funeral started at 11:00 and it was about 15 minutes till and it would take me around that time to get there. All this time I have ideas going thoughts going through my head. I'm going to call today's blog... I am going to say... and this stuff kept going around in my mind all day, plus I kept getting behind people who are polking along -- "what a crock." After the funeral, I went back to work but I have an assignment to do first. After I finished my work, I will start my blog now. I go into it again for another attempt and there are those awful roadblocks again -- "what's a person to do?" I e-mail Donny and tell him of my problem BUT after I e-mail him, I finally get in. It is now 2:45 and I'm finally in. "I'm blogging." The phone rings -- oh shucks here we go again -- someone comes up wanting to talk about the picture of my grandson they see on my screensaver, someone needs to use the phone and can't reach it so I have to dial for them, someone knocks at the door and I have to go let them in, Oh no -- now I have to use the restroom. Finally I get some peace and here I am -- day two on the blog. "What, no spell check?" uhhh

JUST A THOT:

Gee, I’m puzzled – for the first time I am stumped on what to talk about. I’m starting a blog today and just a couple months ago, I didn’t even know what a blog is. "Mom you ought to start a blog" --" a what?" "A blog" – so then comes that question we all know and love – "what is a blog?" Did I state it correctly? Yes, that’s the only way I’m going to find out what it is. "Anywho," he explained to me that blogging is like doing a journal, only on line. "What and write all of my inner thoughts and put them on line where anyone can read them? "No mom, just go into my blog and check it out." Sounds reasonable to me, I thought.. So being the curious, nosey, way too interested mother that I am, I go into his blog. I have already been in his website and read everything there is to read and Wow! I got hooked. I read it everyday and I have found out a lot of things about this young man I didn’t know before. I was IMPRESSED!! I "thot" "you don’t have to put all of your business in the blog, but putting creative inner thoughts, which is was what I have been reading day by day. Keep up the good work son and I will enjoy this blogging thang too.