Rules are rules...they have a purpose

This is really about my job but I'll keep it vague so as not to light up anyone in particular.  OK my job has certain rules/forms that must be filled out in order to attain certain items.  It has a reason.  So anyway on a DAILY basis I have people come in and ask to purchase said items and they haven't filled out the paperwork.  Half the time they don't even know what the paperwork is/never heard of it, had no idea...etc.  Excuses range from, "I'm just picking them up for so and so", " I had it filled out at home but forgot it", "No one said anything about paperwork!", and on and on.  OK, so I politely and patiently (and sometimes let me tell you it's SO not what I want to be doing but it's my job) walk them through filling out the paperwork and get it done.   Then there are those days like today when a lady came to pick up one of said items for her husband...she was in a pissy mood when she walked in...complaining about.."You have THE craziest hours on the planet! I had to leave work early"  actually we don't, they are the same every day but Friday when they are actually longer.  I tell her she needs to fill out the paper work, her attitude goes south..."well I just to pick it up for my husband.."  OK so I'll show you how to fill it out, do you know the child's name?  "No, I don't know his name, my husband wasn't even sure that he earned it BUT he needs it by TONIGHT!"  Here's where I stop and think to myself then WHY is your husband willing to give it to the kid?  Anyway...so I politely tell her, that I'm sorry I really can't sell it to you w/o the form being filled out.  She storms out saying "NEVERMIND! I'll just give him my sons...I'm SO glad my son is quitting next year!"  Bummer...poor kid, he'll miss out on some really cool stuff.  On the edge of customer abuse...

Got Brakes?

Having good brakes is a good thing.   I told my husband about a month ago that my brakes on my mini van were getting bad, they were squealing.  His reply, "didn't we just change them last spring?"  Well yes, we did, but guess what, they actually do wear out....kinda what they do.  So last week they seemed to just be a WHOLE lot worse, it was getting pretty close to the floor, and feeling like there were no brakes at all.  Finally Friday night upon arriving at our friend's house the brake light came on.  I told him again that the brakes needed to be fixed.   I guess he didn't believe me, but he ended up needing to drive it on Sat. for something and he came back and said, "uh..yeah...you need new brakes."  Mmm hmmm...like I said.  Anyway, so last night he and a good friend of ours Mr. Murphy, fixed them.  The difference is amazing! LOL  I can actually stop the vehicle now, imagine that?!  I guess it was just in time to, because someone pulled right out in front of me today of course.  Praise God that it wasn't yesterday, cause I wouldn't have been able to stop in time.

NOW, it's a good thing that the seat belts are in good working order, because I'm used to having to stomp on the brakes, not so much anymore.  It's a little bit like trying to throw everyone out the window when I slow down or stop.  On the edge of my seat...

Yard work 101

UGH!  busted my rearend today, mowing, mowing, mowing...mowed the front and side yards, they were SO long.  It's been raining for what seems like 3 months straight so we haven't been able to mow.  The back yard was so long, I set the mower deck as high as it would go, mowed it once, put it back down, and had my son mow it again in the opposite direction.  Looks like a hay field, but it's done.  Bagged up some leaves, tore out some old rotted wood landscaping timbers.  Hubby weed whacked...ahhhhh....on the edge of a shower and bed.

What is there to sing about at 4am?

Thursday morning I was awakened by birds.   Not the lovely sunny morning around 8/9 am mind you...no, it was 4 am and not even light yet.  What the hell is there to sing about that early in the morning?  You don't even know if your gonna get to see daylight yet.  Stupid birds.  My husband opened the window that night because it was supposed to be above 30 degrees and if  you live in MI you know that that is open window weather, better enjoy it while you can.  So here I was sleeping peacefully in my warm bed, and the damn birds start singing.  UGH!  WHY do I have to be such a light sleeper...it's SO not fair!  Long story short...I was awake for the day, because I'm also terrible at getting back to sleep once awakened.  On the edge of birdocide...

School, what's the point?

One of my sons has a not so good grade in English.  SO, I kept telling him, "You CANNOT fail a core class, you won't pass to the next grade and you'll have to do summer school".  He kept telling me, "no, it doesn't matter, they told me that Mom."  So yesterday I called and left a message for the school counselor.  She called me back this morning.  I told her what I thought, and what he had said about it, and I asked her if she could just please sit him down and let him know that he's wrong, that he can't fail English and still pass.  She paused for just a second, and then she said, "He's right.  Since he's not failing nor has he failed 6 classes, they will do nothing.  He will not have to take summer school, in fact it's not even available this summer due to cuts in funding.  He will be passed on to the next grade w/ no repercussions."   WHAT?!  I was shocked, when I finally picked my jaw up off the floor, I didn't know what to say.  I had suspected that was the case all along, but to have the COUNSELOR come right out and tell me that, I just couldn't believe it.  She also told me that all the kids know it, they are completely aware and if they don't want to do the work, there's really not a whole lot that the teachers can do about it.  Can someone then please tell me, WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT OF GOING TO SCHOOL???!  If the kids are aware that they can do absolutely nothing and still get prodded on to the next grade then how do they get any learning done?   I just don't know what to say, my frustration level just went up with that call and I don't know that there's a way to fix it.    I feel really bad for all the teachers out there, if this is what they have to deal w/ and their hands are tied, I don't know how they deal w/ it on a day to day basis.  On the edge of pulling all my hair out...

Weeds?

Yes, I suppose they are weeds, but how can you help but to like them?  I actually enjoy them and never try to kill them out of my yard.  To me Dandelions are like little puffs of sunshine, they make me smile.  The violets are just an added bonus, together they make a beautiful bouquet.   I always love it when the kids bring me a big 'ol handful of Dandelions and tell me they picked me flowers.

Spring sky: my version :D

My friend Jamie, posted a pic of the spring sky it was blue and pretty w/ white fluffy clouds, so it inspired me to go outside and take pics of my kind of spring sky.   To me it's just not spring til ya see a good thunderstorm, the kind that ROCK the house, knock out your power and make ya wonder if you're going to be in one piece on the other side of it.  It also scares the bejeesus out of my husband, which in turn makes me laugh, so even better.  Here's my version of "spring sky"