Life cycles

The title has nothing to do with anything. It was more of a joke toward Sherri who said our business goes in "cycles". I laughed because we sell washers, dryers, dishwashers... and, yes, those all certainly do go in cycles.

I am beat.

I worked from 9am to 6:30pm in the cold, cold store. For about 3 hours I was alone! But I sold $1600 in appliances. Not a bad day's work. I cleaned the bathroom, washed the floor, and vacuumed.

David is in Wenatchee, delivering the "new" stove to our old house, and he will be working hard to get as much done as he can during this precious weekend!!! We HAVE to get the house rented out. I will be going there as soon as possible to get my final cleaning done and to finish painting. woo. Joy.

Meanwhile, it's colder than witch's snot outside, and I am way beyond tired, so I am going to watch some brainless TV. I will wrap up in my quilt that Yvonne made me. I was too tired to eat dinner, but I had a few pieces of the chicken I cooked in the crock pot today. I didn't eat lunch today, and this meal-skipping is SO not me. Last night though.......

OH MY GOSH

David and I had sushi at a local sushi restaurant. YEAH, in Bothell. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good.

Goodnight all.

I am glad my Julie is coming during Spring Break. Mommy loves you, honey baby girl.

Whose Store is it, Anyway?

Like the show. If you don't know, you won't get it.

It's our store.

But he often treats it like it is "his" and someone else just conveniently pays the bills. He told me that he was going to schedule "his" truck for new tires and an overhaul, plus a new windshield. Well, it would be much better to wait until WE schedule that, when there is money to cover it. Oh, yeah, that. Right. It is, in fact, OUR truck. WE bought it. He drives it. For us. And right now there just isn't enough money to handle all of that.

He tells the customers what he will do for them. In anger at one point, I told this particularly difficult customer, "He is MY employee. Not the other way around." He deals with them on the side. "Just call me" he will say, as if dealing directly with him will get them better service, better deals, and in general everything they could ever want. Yet he fails to return calls, gets way too tangled up in messes he can't unmess, makes promises he can't or won't keep, and then guess what? I get to sort it all out.

That is going to stop. I've already told two customers that WE own the store. He works for us. They will tell us what it is they want, we will pass it on to him if it's something he can do, otherwise we will handle it. I'm not mad, I'm just determined.

I love him to death. He loves that I keep the fridge at work stocked so he can make a sandwich whenever he's hungry, and can grab juice or pop whenever he wants. He loves having an onsite Mom. He loves being joked with. But he HATES being monitored.

Today the repair guy noticed some compliant behavior and said "You must be getting him trained." Insightful. I said that I believe the keys are firmness, consistancy, and FOOD.

We are finding so many old and VERY bad transactions coming back to haunt us. The former owner sold appliances to two customers several times. he sold things he didn't have. He made huge promises. Several of those ghosts have returned at once, wanting their money, or their appliances, or worse.

Tomorrow I get to .... meet with him. I need to rest up. Goodness.

In all of this, though, the repair guy has just bloomed. It's an amazing transfiguration. I am so impressed. He was like a big old flower hidden behind a pile of poo. Getting a bit of sun has made him incredibly perky. He was very, very happy that I made him two pots of coffee today, and it really makes him laugh when I say that I'm "just" hired help, or the secretary, so that's what I'm there for. He washed the pot for me. I stand alongside him and clean appliances, unafraid of the lowest tasks. David as well; works to solve problems and fix leaks and rattles. I know he is shocked and affirmed by this odd behavior. Once he learned we were human, he stepped out of his shell and became very bold.

OH, and the heater broke.

So the store feels like a garage. It is so cold my nose was red and drippy today.

The repair guy hooked up a dryer, faced the vent toward me, and blew warm air my way. See what I mean? This is nothing short of amazing. And my hot-headed employee gave me a million dollar smile today and said "thanks, Mom!" about the newly stocked fridge.

But it's our store.

And he seriously needs to remember that.

I will always take care of them. I will always respect them. And I will always expect professional actions and respectful behavior from them both. I appear to be everybody's mom on the outside, but I am a business person inside, and things will be done right, or someone else will be hired to do them. And that, my friends, is the truth.

Glad to see the rain again

Ok, so yeah, I know that it rained something like 30 days out of 35 here recently. That did, in fact, get old. But then the "cold snap" hit and I have to say that was worse.

Today I awoke to find that it had rained. This means it can't be 18 degrees outside. The plants are looking a whole lot more normal. The rhodies, especially, are way perky this morning. They looked like frozen death for the past few days.

But now I must get ready for another exciting (hmmm) day at the State Patrol. It feels like you've lost both ends of the day when you work 10am to 8pm, with a 40+ minute commute each way. The day is shot. But I'll try to have a bit of energy when I get home anyway.

Whoo... some very challenging problems at the store! Goodness, how we keep learning of failed promises made by the guy who previously owend the business. A lot of that is resulting in people trying to get money from US. This guy was a dork in his business dealings. You just can't sell an appliance to two people. But he did. Or sell an appliance you don't have but "can get". A year later, uh, the person may return and wish to get their money back. YUH THINK????

Must go. At least nobody asks me for money at WSP. ;-)

So many changes

Life offers a lot of curves in the road where you didn't expect them. It's not like we travel the same road over and over. Life is one long (or sometimes short) road with not a lot of advance warning as to the shape or condition.

It is so sad to see something much loved disappear. But the road is like that. Something new will appear ahead, and it will be anticipated and welcomed. Maybe it will stay. Maybe not. Unpredictable. The only thing that is not uncertain is the Road Maker. You have to stay in touch with the Road Maker.


Today's shift at the State Patrol was about as dull as they come. And I had ten hours of that dull. FINALLY at the last moment, practically, I was given some detective work to do. wOOt. Help find the responsible party in a hit and run collision. Now, that's more like it. Phone calls, data base searching, faxing. Gotta love it. And John called today! That was like... hot cocoa. But that was after I came home.

I need to go to sleeeeeep. Tomorrow remains unscheduled so far. I wish I could just stay here and love my house and pets, but I'm sure I'll be at the store answering phones and maybe selling some washers and dryers and most certainly cleaning some of the same. *sigh* Is there no end to cleaning? No, there is none.

Poor, sad plants and things

It is C-O-L-D. Far too cold for warm, living things. Too cold for green things. Our poor plants look positively depressed, which is an oximoron.

Yesterday Greg called while David and I were working in the kitchen. David installed a new built-in microwave above the stove. I cleaned the oven and stove with this new cleaner we bought that is .... edible .... I guess. It's a non-toxic cleaner that the impossibly handsome sales guy basically TASTES to prove it is gentle. Well it works wonderfully, so I was happily scrubbing EVERYTHING in sight while I waited for my cues to "hold this" or "move that". I washed windows, floors, counter tops... ha ha ha. So anyway, the phone rings and it's Greg and I say enthusiastically "OH you're coming to Bothell! How wonderful!!!" JOKING, of course...but that is, in fact, why he called. He wanted to be sure it was okay to bring Michael Blakely, another musician from Calvary Chapel. Well, he KNEW it would be "okay", but he wanted to give me a head's up! So that was very sweet. They arrived and we all sat up watching music videos and playing CDs until well after midnight. During the day we got a very sad call that a brother of a good friend of ours had been killed in a car crash, and his daughter severely injured. She is hospitalized at Harborview, as of the last we heard, with severe internal injuries.

Meanwhile, this morning Laura, Greg, Michael, David and I all went to Calvary Chapel Seattle! That was fun, except that 20 minutes before service time Greg suddenly remembered he had to take a shower!!!!! So we were a bit late, but there is this thing called "Calvary Chapel Time" which means if you are within 15 minutes of scheduled start time, you are on time! Ha. It ended up being just fine. And FUN, and very enjoyable to be at church as a family. Laura goes to Antioch, so sitting by her in church is a rare treat. Afterwards we went to 'Claim Jumpers' at Michael's recommendation. WOW was that food incredible. LOTS AND LOTS of it, too. We shared a chocolate chip calzone afterwards. Y-U-M. Then we all went to Trader Joes, since Greg loves that store, and Michael went nuts. He loved it. It's HILARIOUS to see grown guys get all excited about a grocery store!!!!! We bought chocolate covered sunflower seeds. OH MY GOSH they are so good! SO good. Too good. Back home, more music. Then the guys left for Guitar Center to do some looking around. They plan to seriously shop tomorrow. Unfortunately I have to work at WSP for 10 hours tomorrow. It is still as cold as snot here. Colder. Frozen snot.

Now the fire is crackling wonderfully, potatoes are boiling, and Laura, Greg and Michael are sitting in the fire's glow watching, what else, music videos. It's an 'Incubus' concert this time. Michael notices which guitar the guitar players are using, and which effects, and Greg is unimpressed with the drummer. We are all fascinated watching Brandon's mouth. I love Brandon's mouth.

Laura sits on the couch wrapped in a blanket pining away for her Daniel who will not be returning from the Youth Retreat in WENATCHEE, of all places, until tomorrow. Greg called David Sparks, the drummer for 'Endeavor' and discussed the irony of Greg being in Bothell while they were in Wenatchee. Weird stuff. Otherwise you know the boys would have done some music stuff. As it is, I feel very priveledged to have the boys here discussing music. It is SO hilarious. Michael's mom must be very.... limited in musical taste. He cannot believe how many bands I "know". I am unable to avoid introduction to the best. I feel very glad about this.

Well, I'm making potatoes and bbq pork sandwiches, so I better get to it. The fire is beautiful and warm, and the house cozy. I am sure music will rule until the early hours again. Not a bad evening, I'd say.

Ya'll take care. Stay warm and don't forget how fragile life is. In a moment it is snatched away, with no warning. Love your family and tell them you love them. Always have a good goodbye. It may be your last.

Ta ta for now

I am a proud Mom

These are my two girls. They make my life very rich. They are worth laundry, and dishes, and expenses. They are worth far more than even they can imagine.

That's all. Just a little blurb about my girls.

They both like cream of potato soup.

'sup dawg?

I have not been writing much of late. Much of early, either. Just haven't been writing much.

Today was a very different day for me. I started prep last night for the dinner I catered in Federal Way for Sherri's family today. Well, Gary's family mostly, I guess. Gary's mom's memorial service was today, and I stayed at their house and cooked. I had a helper - a wonderful and warm woman named Sandra. She is from Louisiana, and speaks with a beautiful soft drawl wrapped in the chocolate color of her skin. It's awesome to just listen to her. Together we made some tortilla wraps, turkey and ham, with and without cheese. I had already started a huge pot of chicken in mushroom and wine sauce. Sandra made the salad while I made rice. We set up the buffet while the family was at the church and cemetery, and they all piled in at once to chat and munch. Oh, yeah, I also made a pear and pecan cobbler which actually was very, very good. (new recipe, never tried it before)

It was fun to be in a big old family group and listen to them banter with each other. I had a great time. Evidently the whole family has heard how Sherri and I became friends when Justin was in Iraq and was on the 'adopt a soldier' list and Sherri drew his name. He gave her my email address, and the rest is history. Sherri and Gary and their son Andrew came to Wenatchee last July and spent 9 hours in the kitchen of the grange where I held that fundraiser. THAT was above and beyond! Gary's aunt mentioned that I was some sort of amazing friend for Sherri, but I reminded her that it truly goes both ways. It's so wonderful that Sherri and I have stayed in this close of touch and I feel like it's ME who got adopted. We're all getting together for dinner on a regular basis, we decided, starting in March. We want to do a once a month dinner at each other's houses. Andrew will be able to be here for the March dinner, and then of course after he graduates distance won't be an issue.

Tomorrow is Sarah's last day in Washington, sadly enough. But it has be absolutely peaceful and right to have her back with us. I'm trying to coax her into spending some time here after her two year obligation with YWAM ends. She would probably have Laura's room, if Laura does proceed with her plan to move out within 6-8 months. Otherwise the girls can share that room, which I'm sure would be just FINE with Laura. Sawah Fwiend.

Tomorrow is Church day, and David and I are going to a little Sunday School class for old people! :-) Not really; but most attendees are Q-tips. After that it's the service, and I am liking Canyon Hills. Then it will be time to head for home so I can make cream of potato soup with chicken. Monday and Tuesday I work 10-hour shifts at the State Patrol. ew. Wednesday I'll do my 8 hours or so at our store, and so the chaos picks back up...