What Was Your First Job?

Yes, it's a dirty word, but some body's got to use it!


At eleven years old, I was ready to tackle the world and make some money.  I had always liked to keep busy and found fun in doing chores (they always said there was something wrong with me).  In addition to those naysayers, my family told me that I would have plenty of time to work when I was an adult.  Of course, I did not listen.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work for my Grandfather, Doc.  Doc was not a doctor, as you might think, but an owner of several, large, western-wear, clothing stores.  My Grandpa had thousands of boots, hats, belts, jeans, you name it.  If it was western, he sold it.  The biggest store that he owned was in a very popular, local shopping mall named Valley West Mall (on a side note: this mall was torn down many years ago, but because it was loved by many, I started a Facebook group Fans of Valley West Mall and am proud to say that there are almost 1,200 people in this group, who now live all over the country).

This store being the biggest one of them all, and closest to my home, was where I began my working career.  At eleven, I was given the very prestigious and important job of maintaining the appearance of the store.  This included vacuuming what seemed like the entire length of a football field, cleaning mirrors, dusting, taking out the garbage and my least two favorites of cleaning the bathrooms and emptying the ashtrays.  Although it seems like a lot of work for a little person, I did my job diligently.  I even road my bike to and from work which was probably a three mile ride one-way.

My bike, aw, that was my freedom (but that's a whole other story).

Anyway, I made a decent salary and I got to go spend my earnings at the food court or at the video game arcade - so life was good.  

As I got older, I begged for a promotion.  I was given the task of working by the register processing credit card transactions during the busy holiday seasons. "What's the big deal about that?" you ask.  "People run their own credit cards through the key pad - what did you have to do?"  Well, my friend, in the mid 1980's there were no credit card machines.  We had three-part, carbon copy credit card slips that needed to be filled out and then placed on a sliding imprint machine with the card.  We ran the imprinter over the paper and "Walla!" the numbers were now on the slip.  In addition, I got to call an 800 number with every transaction and enter information into the phone in hopes that the credit went through and I would be given an authorization code to complete the order.  At 13, I was VERY IMPORTANT!

At 16, I was ready for bigger and better things.  Although I really wanted to work behind the cash register and run all of the transactions and touch the money, I was only given a few opportunities to do so.  Not because I did anything wrong but because I was just too young, I suppose!  So, I was given the job of selling women's clothes.  I had to bug people and ask if they wanted to spend their hard earned money on a $50 Panhandle Slim blouse or a $100 pair of Wranglers.  I did not make a commission but at those prices, I sure wish I did.  One part of my job was SUPER awesome.  I got to work with a leather stamping machine and dye to personalize custom belt orders.  Remember when people had their names on the back of their belts (Jim, Bob, Chuck).  That was ME displaying my beautiful skills.  And skills I needed, especially when working with someone's expensive $100+ belt they just purchased.  If I messed up, I was sure to be in trouble.

My first job allowed me to learn a lot about a lot.  It is also where I met the man who, 14 years later, became my ex-husband and the father to my 2 AWESOME kids.

What was your first job and what did you learn?

Everything is "SUPER"

You use them everyday (unless you are a recluse and you never do any communicating).  You use them to modify a noun (person, place or thing) - YES, I am talking about ADJECTIVES.  These little sentence helpers help to draw attention to our listeners.

It seems that I have an "adjective" of the month, which I don't know how I got stuck on, that is: SUPER.  I find myself using it to describe just about anything I like.  I find myself using this word almost to the degree of being annoying (ever felt like that?).  So, I thought it would be interesting to share some adjectives with you in hopes that YOU TOO can make some attention grabbing sentences :)

Today's word is:
 
HAPPY: 

1.  Blessed
2.  Blissful
3.  Chipper
4.  Cheerful
5.  Delighted
6.  Elated
7.  Gay
8.  Jolly
9.  Merry
10. Thrilled

The next time someone asks you, "How are you today?" reply with one of these.

It SUCKS To Get Old

Yes, been feeling a bit old lately. No, that's a lie. Actually, I have felt this way for several years. I know I am ways away from retirement age, but I am on a fast track to getting there.  With my failing memory, my far sighted-ness forcing me to wear readers to do ANYTHING, and my infinite "wisdom" I feel I have crossed into "over the hill" zone.   It doesn't help that I can admit that I have "teenagers" now and that the nest will be empty in a blink of an eye.

Ho-hum, the depression sets in.....

Review: A Few Email Subscriptions That I Have

Well, HELLO there!  It's been a little while.....Life, job, kids, family, you've heard all the excuses.

I have been cleaning up my email inbox and realized that I have a lot of subscriptions to websites that I simply am not interested in anymore (I am sure that I can speak for many of us).  I came across several that I really look forward to reading and I thought I would share them with you:

 

Be Happy  (www.behappy.me) - This website is filled with great, motivational quotes including the one above.  They are laid out in a poster format and are available for purchase if you want to hang them up or you can copy and paste them for free as computer backgrounds, greeting cards, etc.  What I really like is that you can use these as Facebook covers and the website even prepares them for you and all you have to do is connect through Facebook and upload.

This is an example of an email that I received:

To live, love, and be happy, forevermore, Jennifer, just decide to be from this moment forward.

Tallyho,
    The Universe

I receive these cool emails from Mike Dooley by signing up on his website Tut (Letters From The Universe) (www.tut.com).  These "Notes From The Universe" are super cool and really resonate with whatever is going on currently in my life.  Plus, it's neat to feel that the Universe is talking directly to me.  The founder of the website, Mike Dooley, is a philosophical master who founded Adventurers Club on the Internet that's now home to over 500,000 members from over 185 countries.  He writes inspirational books and he is one of the teachers in the international bestseller The Secret.

Who doesn't have Facebook?  If you don't, disregard this information.  However, if you are like me and enjoy telling the world what's going on in your life, sharing pictures with family, catching up with classmates, you will get a kick out of this next share:

Everyday Me  (www.everyday.me)

I love getting emails that remind me what was going on in MY life years ago.  In our busy lives, it's hard to remember, but with this cool app through Itunes, I get a reminder of the posts that I made years ago from my Facebook timeline.

Everyday.me is a smart timeline journal to capture all your life moments, including your activities across the web.

• Private by default - Collect every thought privately and safely.
• Never lose anything - Everything is backed up online.
• Capture the moment - Photos, Videos, Emotions, Tags, Search, and more.
• Where were you a year ago? Find out with our "Blast from the Past".

Future Me  (www.futureme.org)

I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!!!!  Many years ago I found this and decided to send a letter to my "future" self.  I wrote a letter to be read one year later.  As the months passed, I forgot all about this letter.  To my surprise, one year later, I received an email from myself.  It was a little Erie reading it 365 days later but as I read on, I thought about how cool it was to see how much my life had changed in that year's time.  I decided to this every year after that and have also begun sending these letters to my loved ones so that they too get a message from me.  Who knows, maybe after my time on earth is through, my loved ones will still get to hear from me (I know, a little morbid, but SO cool).

From their website:    "So send your future self some words of inspiration. Or maybe give 'em swift kick in the pants. Or just share some thoughts on where you'll or what you'll be up to in a year, three years...more? And then we'll do some time travel magic and deliver the letter to you. FutureYou, that is."

Well, this wraps up my post.  I hope you explore the various, cool email subscriptions that I enjoy using and I know you will too!

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason.

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.

Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

Most importantly, if you LOVE someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.

And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

That's The Story Of Life.

~ Unknown

Trending Today: Famous Coffee Outlet & The Diaper Changing Incident

 So this baby walks into a bar.....

Nah, that didn't happen but I thought it might get your attention.

In Denver, CO, a very popular coffee chain, I am not going to name names, but it rhymes with Carbucks, had a little incident with a dirty diaper and a baby who was with his not-so-happy mom.

It seems that the mom was enjoying her coffee when she realized that her one-year old son needed his diaper changed.  She proceeded to take him into the restroom when she discovered that there were no changing tables offered by the establishment.

Does "Carbucks" think that it's only customers are laptop carrying, blazer wearing, non-fat, skinny Mocha Cappuccino drinkers?  What about the mothers who bribe their children with a Strawberries & Cream so they will do their chores after their homework is done?  It seems like more and more families are frequenting this coffee heaven and maybe the owners should re-think who their clientele is.

So, to continue the story, the mother of the baby decided to change her son's diaper in the seating area, right in front of tea drinking athletes, elderly paper-readers and impatient businesspersons.

Let's just say, this is not exactly great drinking entertainment and some of the employees decided to take matters into their own hands by treating the mother with her very own clean-up towel and words of disgust and laughter.

Mom was not too happy and I am sure, a little embarrassed.  She decided to give them their drink back when she poured it on the floor, causing quite a stir.

Now, I am a mom of two and I remember the days of searching for a changing table and sometimes not being successful.  What was I to do?  One time, when I was at the mall, I was in the only bathroom available and the only changing table was broken.  Luckily, I had a changing pad in my diaper bag and a blanket that I was able to lay on the floor to get our business done.  I know, not the most sanitary, but a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do!

What do you think about this story?

(Huff Post Denver was used to reference the events)         

Crabby Old Man

Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . . . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . .. Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. . . . With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . Who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . With wings on his feet..
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . .. That I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . .. . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . . And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . .. . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . .. . . Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . .. . Life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . See ME!!

~Anonymous