100 Memories

On this, my 100^th blog, I wanted to share 100 fond memories from my life. I hope I won’t bore you with this slightly indulgent journey down memory lane on my part. Without further ado, here they are…

1) Going to Grandma’s (my great-grandmother) every Tuesday at 4:00 PM for salmon cakes or some other fish. I used to sit on a stool with quilts to make me tall enough for the table.

2) Getting stuck on top of the monkey bars during recess in kindergarten after repeatedly trying to make my way there over several weeks. When Mom came to pick me up, I was frozen with fear and it took me a while to get down.

3) Dropping my jaw at the kindergarten scandal--the principal’s daughter in my class wore a tube top to school one day! Oh the shame of it all!!!

4) Watching with envy as Bob White’s cow was the one that was put up with the head over the fence for a first grade bulletin board. I so wanted my cow there. I quickly got over it.

5) Passing out and falling in the middle of a collection of wooden chairs while making a Mother’s Day candle out of soap, toile, and a washcloth. Ouch!

6) Drinking milk out of plastic bags as part of a year-long experiment. It was fun!

7) Staying at the Helms Motel, North Myrtle Beach every time we went to the beach.

8) Driving the go-cart by myself at Myrtle Beach. I didn’t want to drive by myself and ended up rear-ending the lady in front of me, forcing her out of the way, and finally stopping when I ran over the tires at the edge of the track!

9) Kissing all the first grade girls during recess. I was such a Casanova! I’m not sure why I did it! Maybe I was bored??

10) Watching Mrs. Overman open her end of the year presents and discovering that someone had given her underwear! The giggling and tittering were ceaseless!

11) Finding out that second grade math speed tests weren’t as frightening as they sounded in first grade.

12) Stapling my finger while trying to close my bag of chips. The second grade substitute was rushing me to music after lunch. I don’t like being rushed! It was an afternoon at the ER complete with pliers and smelling salts! Fun fun!

13) Making mud pies under Grandpa’s pecan trees and adding the appropriate local-grown “vegetables” to create a culinary masterpiece!

14) Cranking the car engine on the 1976 Buick Stationwagon so I could lower the back window. Boy! I got in so much trouble!!

15) Blowing bubblegum bubbles in Grandpa’s den while he was in the kitchen. He still heard us and we were reprimanded. We giggled hysterically!

16) Following my sister underneath the clothes racks at department stores while Mom shopped. Mom wasn’t happy and she let us know it! haha

17) Changing classes for English and Math in third grade. Wow! Are we grown?

18) Performing around the May Pole on May Day. I was cute in the blue sash, but I was very self-conscious skipping around the pole in front of all those people!

19) Accepting Christ as my Savior one morning after church.

20) Being the tiger in a Japanese version of Little Red Riding Hood. Grrroowwwlllll!

21) Being an angel (not much of a stretch!) for a production of Hansel & Gretel.

22) Walking in the Walk-a-Thon in fourth grade and not thinking I would make it the whole 12 miles. But I did!

23) Drinking Cheerwine after that Walk-a-Thon. It was the last time for quite a while. I know why! I don’t care for it!

24) Growing up on the dairy farm--the open space, the lovely countryside odors, the bobwhite calls. Nothing like it!

25) Washing out the barn with the pressure hose every other weekend after milking was finished.

26) Having wee Kellie hold the same pressure hose after I had finished washing the barn while I turned off the pump. The whole milking parlor, including us, was soaked!

27) Changing the teat cups once a month. We liked it! Really!

28) Learning how to drive the Bobcat. Never could get the hang of the bucket controls!

29) Going to the garden early during the summer to beat the heat. I hated picking corn and butter beans, but it was worth it. Mom picked circles around us kids.

30) Riding up the sycamore tree in the golf cart while Kellie was driving. Yes, folks, she drove up the tree. I had to back it off. Somehow it managed to survive and thrive!

31) Riding out in front of an oncoming car on the same golf cart just a few minutes later. The same driver hopped out and left me and the cart in the middle of the road. Needless to say, driving privileges were revoked for a while.

32) Being in my 6^th grade play where we repeated a section of the play twice during the performance and the audience laughed both times at the joke!

33) Entering Jr. High School (for me 7^th and 8^th grades). Not my best year!

34) Having to go to PE everyday for 3 1/2 years. My favorite part was Health class!

35) Having to go to the locker room to change with all those boys! My first PE had 8^th graders in it as well! Don’t they have private rooms here????

36) Catching the softball pop fly with no glove as I heard the PE coach say I would never catch it. I was the hero for the day!

37) Reciting the Preamble for North Carolina history class. Thanks Schoolhouse Rock!

38) Making Christmas presents for our teachers! Candies and cookies and breads, oh my!

39) Receiving the Timothy, Meritorious, and Citation awards in AWANA.

40) Being embarrassed by Kellie during Health class when she raps loudly on the trailer door to switch lunches.

41) Having my classes come out each year to the house to build the Homecoming floats.

we had so much fun planning and building.

42) Wearing the same tiger costume from 3^rd grade for the 7^th grade float. A tad snug!

43) Going to Old Salem in 7^th grade. I didn’t care for the pickled peach, but the bread was wonderful!

44) Getting up at 3 AM each morning to go help Dad bring the cows in and feed the cows. Then I was able to go back to bed!

45) Sitting in the warm truck on a cold morning, falling asleep, and waking up to discover that the trough had overfilled and silage was in a large pile at the end of the trough. Oops!

46) Learning new sayings from Dad when the cows didn’t co-operate early in the morning (You cows irk my rectum!) and trying not to laugh!

47) Being the pump man for Dad when he treated recently freshened cows with VUT. It wasn’t pleasant if they still retained the placenta!

48) Going barefoot all summer long at the barnyard. Mom forbade it afterwards because of stained toenails.

49) Finally being allowed to have a pet hamster only to be made to get rid of it after one week because it escaped its home!

50) Having swimming lessons when I was around 13. I felt very self-conscious about blowing bubbles before each class and never could get the hang of breathing and swimming.

51) Having all the cats over the years. Misty was the Queen. No one can dethrone her. She lived to be around 19 years old. I used to carry her around in my robe pocket.

52) Being stalked by my sister after she entered Jr. High. She was everywhere!!!

53) Loading up a buggy with all the cabbage on display at Farm Fresh with 2 of my friends because we had run out of slaw for the Country Fair. People were indeed staring!

54) Learning how to dissect frogs, worms, fish, and other creatures in Biology.

55) Traveling to Washington, DC for the 11^th grade trip. My feet were killing me because we walked everywhere!

56) Going with my friends to the Emerald Isle for a week between Junior and Senior year. What a fun week! Burnt soles and all!

57) Being chosen as the co-editor of the yearbook. I loved it!

58) Screeching into the post office at midnight to make the deadlines for the yearbook. We had everything under control…yes, indeed! No worries whatsoever!

59) Riding in the back seat while a classmate drove us to take pictures for the yearbook. We didn’t think we would make it safely!!

60) Traveling to New York for the Senior trip. Enjoyed Schroon Lake and Montreal. Walked and walked and walked in NYC. This is Times Square?????!!!

61) Graduating!!!!! Could it have been any hotter or the speaker any more boring???

62) Having fun at Myrtle Beach with my friends. The last time we were all together!

63) Watching the last milking at Greenview Farms. Bittersweet!

64) Looking like a Freshman 110% on my first day at NCSU. What a large campus!

65) Deciding to get a 4-year degree in 5 years. Why rush?

66) Having to go from one end of the NC State campus all the way to the other end in the 15 minute time span between classes...up hill...both ways.

67) Surviving 4 semesters of chemistry--regular and organic--with no previous chemistry classes. Anyone for acid-baseball?

68) Foolishly taking German classes three semesters apart. Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

69) Trying to make my way down a cliff in what is now Hemlock Bluffs Park only to find myself sailing through the air and landing in a sitting position in the middle of Swift Creek. Mud was everywhere and I still had to finish the class!

70) Camping in the mountains with the Mammalogy class for a weekend live-trapping small mammals. The wind howled all night Saturday and all day Sunday when a cold front came through. BRRRRRRRRRRR

71) Taking 4 semesters of college PE classes--angling, bowling, archery, golf. Haven’t participated in any of them since then.

72) Scouring Eastern North Carolina on three different trips with the Ornithology class-my life list grew by leaps and bounds.

73) Starting my first real job with CARQUEST. Not long after, I ran off a driveway into a ditch while delivering parts! Luckily the man had a tractor. No harm to the van!

74) Driving around in the delivery truck singing “Nobody Does It Better” at the top of my lungs because there was no radio in the truck!

75) Welcoming Steve into the family. Where did all the people come from at the wedding?

76) Learning how to sell auto parts without knowing how to work on a car. It can be done!

77) Falling out during an interview in front of the interviewers. Didn’t get the job!

78) Passing out twice within a few minutes of each other in the bathroom at work. Scared a lot of people who made me go to the ER.

79) Passing out while sitting during an interview for another position with CARQUEST. The interviewer thought I was having a seizure! I’m beginning to see a pattern here…

80) Going to the hospital while Kellie was “birthin’ dem babies”! Is that my sister moaning like a dying animal??

81) Holding Wesley and Mikayla for the very first time. I was a bit nervous!

82) Taking my first ever flight to anywhere visiting Aaron in California. What a long day!

83) Working for 5 months with Midway Airlines. I was able to travel for free!!

84) Being re-hired by CARQUEST after being “furloughed” by Midway.

85) Taking my first international flight to Northern Ireland. A very nice place!

86) Meeting Noel for the first time in a sea of Mexicans at the Mexico City airport. I fell in love with the country, the people, and the food!

87) Traveling to Albania to meet Emi. The flight was delayed and I arrived 24 hours late, but at least I was able to stay in Austria for the night!

88) Taking my Albanian gondola ride (a raft pushed by a guy in the water) down the river.

89) Riding bumper cars in Albania. Never have bumper cars been more fun!

90) Switching positions at CARQUEST. Now I’m working in the office and loving it!

91) Eating arracheras and drinking horchata de coco. ¡Nada está más fino o delicioso!

92) Watching Steve’s jaw drop when he unwrapped his banjo. Priceless!

93) Planning Dad and Mom’s 40^th anniversary party. We managed to actually surprise them! Their facial expressions were worth all the time and effort!

94) Seeing the awesome power of Niagara Falls up close and personal. WOW!

95) Having Mom home again after her hospital stay.

96) Sightseeing in Washington, DC, soaking wet because of all the thunderstorms that rumbled through the area. Kellie’s walk back to the hotel from Naila’s was hilarious!

97) Winning prizes at the fair for jams, jellies, baked goods, and produce.

98) Showing Wesley and Mikayla the joys of cooking. If only their mother could see it...

99) Taking recent family vacations. It is good to finally see Dad and Mom go somewhere regularly!

100) Working in the garden with Dad and Mom. It’s amazing to see what Dad comes up with for improvements each year.

Wow! That list is full of many good memories. Thanks for letting me share them with you!

Until next time, have a memory-filled day!

Wreath or No Wreath?

Well, now there's a controversy over where to place wreaths for Memorial Day. Several professors sent a petition to President Obama asking him to not place a wreath on the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery because the monument is "a denial of the wrong committed against African-Americans by slave owners, Confederates and neo-Confederates through the monument's denial of slavery as the cause of succession and its holding up of Conferates as heroes" and "implies that the humanity of Africans and African-Americans is of no signifigance". What a load of crap, hogwash, bunk, and any other term you would like to use!

First of all, the monument in itself does not deny any of the wrong that was committed against the slaves before and during the war. The monument stands as a memorial to the brave men who fought for their land. It seems that the myth that says that all Southerners owned slaves is rearing its ugly head again. Most of the soliders that fought in the Confederacy did not own slaves. They were bravely and honorably fighting for the side of their homeland. I wholeheartedly agree with the wrongness of slavery and that it was time for it to go, but at the same time, I can also understand why so many fought on the side of the South. Just because they were members of the Confederate Army doesn't make them less brave, less heroic, or less honorable than the soliders from the North.

Secondly, the humanity of Africans and African-Americans is certainly not made less significant because of a memorial honoring war dead. Humanity of all people is degraded by the actions of others. All people should be treated with respect and should not be demeaned because of their color, language, nationality, or beliefs. We should all strive to honor all people at all times.

While I vastly disagree with most of the President's agenda and ideas, I do agree with what he did. He did place a wreath at the Confederate Memorial and he also placed a wreath at the African-American Civil War Memorial. I know there will still be some people angry because he still placed a wreath at the "offending" memorial as well as some that will be angry because he placed another wreath at the African-American memorial. But one can't make everyone happy all the time. All I have to say to these people is "build a bridge and get over it"! Both groups deserve to be honored because of their bravery and fortitude in the middle of the darkest, toughest, most confusing time in our nation's history!

The Green Clunker

Today started out as a good day both weather-wise and in my outlook. Once I tried to leave, the day went south fast. My car wouldn't crank again. I tried over and over several times with no luck. Finally, Mom let me use her car to get to work so I wouldn't be late.

Unbeknown to me, she took care of matters while I was working. I was expecting to return home tonight and help Dad find out what the problem is and hoping that it would be very minor and cheaply fixable. Come to find out on the way home was that Mom had it towed to the shop. Guess what? It was the fuel pump relay again! This episode makes the fourth time I have had that relay replaced in the last 2 years. The last time was just last August or September. I am getting really tired of the repair bills adding up. If I had a had a cliff nearby, I would push it over the edge and not think twice. Wait! Lake Wheeler is close by!! Hmmmm...

When I get a little extra money, I am going to start looking hard and heavy for a new ride. It's time. I am not one of those people that are sentimental over cars, old or new. For me, they are a tool and not much more than that. So while I wait, I will be driving the Green Clunker around town. Honk if you see me!

Until next time, any suggestions for a possible ride would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Cousin of Man?

Today I heard about more news that supposedly links us to the Chimpanzee. I learned that a Duke researcher now says that Chimpanzees are even closer to us humans because they take risks and gamble. (No, they didn't have them playing poker, pulling slot machines, or rolling dice in Las Vegas!)

The researchers compared the wild Chimpanzee to its smaller cousin, the Bonobo, which only lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire). They found that, while the two species eat similar items, Bonobos eat from sources that are much more reliable. Chimpanzees, on the other hand, forage from more unreliable sources and are therefore willing to take more chances when it comes to gathering food for the troop, including actually hunting down small prey or even a fellow chimpanzee.

According to their findings, they believe that this characteristic is another reason why Chimpanzees and humans are closely related! Supposedly, humans and Chimpanzees separated 6 million years ago. Where do they come up with these ideas? Do they really think that people will believe it? Well, actually, I guess they do. For all the educated people there are these days, there sure are some dumb ideas floating around. Below I will elaborate on some of the ideas and then give my take on the evidence.

First of all, we share 94% of our DNA with a Chimpanzee. That fact certainly doesn't make us closely related. We are not really that far removed from a housefly if one compares DNA. All that the common DNA proves is that one Creator spoke life into existence and used several common elements to create all the diversity that is found on earth.

Secondly, Chimpanzees use tools. So what? Many other animals use tools. Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) use stones to break open Ostrich eggs. Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) breaks open the shells of abalone and other molluscs with a rock. Green Herons (Butorides virescens) use food scraps or insects to attract fish to the water's surface. The world is full of tool-using animals. In fact, there are probably more tool-using species out there waiting for their behavior to be discovered.

Thirdly, Chimpanzees are very communicative, as are humans. Well, let me give brother Chimpanzee a great big bear hug and ask him over for tea. Then we can laugh and cry together as we regale each other with stories of our lives. There are all kinds of communication in the animal kingdom. And more wait to be discovered. There's no end to what there is left to discover as far as animal behavior. I agree that communication in Chimpanzees is very similar to humans, but again that proves nothing in the way of relatedness.

Fourthly, Chimpanzees display aggressive tendencies, can organize a very sophisticated hunt, are able to lie, cheat, and steal, and are very conscious of their status within the troop. All that proves to me is that Man has fell so far away from God that he acts more like the animals than the animals act like him.

I do see the similarities between humans and Chimpanzees. They are fascinating creatures to watch and learn about, but they are not closely related to humans. I believe that God used the primate "mold" when he created Adam and Eve, but then took a radical turn from the rest of Creation. He made them in the image of Himself. This fact means that Man is a three-part being; he has a body, soul, and spirit. Chimpanzees and the rest of the animal kingdom have only a body (the physical) and a soul (the life inside).

Man's spirit was made to commune with God and to have fellowship with Him. Sadly, when Adam and Eve fell, the spiritual part of humans was severely damaged and he has been trying to repair it ever since. But he will never succeed. The only way to restore the healthy spiritual relationship with God is to accept God's gift of free salvation through His Son's death, burial and resurrection. There is no other alternative except to be separated from God forever in the eternal flames of hell.

When you see a Chimpanzee, think on these thoughts. Watch with joy and praise God for all He has given us with His Creation. If you don't know Him as a personal Father, accept His gift now. You will experience more joy than you will ever know.

Customer Service

There is always a lot of talk about the lack of customer service these days. We are always being reminded of that at work and how to make the customer happy. We were even required to take a two day class on how to upgrade our customer service skills in order to help change our company to a better one. I personally think it was a waste of time and money, but they didn't ask my opinion.

Everybody concentrates on bad customer service that the reverse, bad customer attitude, falls through the cracks. Being in the customer service industry, I have seen it over and over through the years. Several examples come to mind.

1) Customers enter the store thinking they are the only ones in the world. They can be spotted from the parking lot. They enter and make a beeline to the nearest clerk and demand their attention immediately because they are more important than the clerk helping someone else. Another tactic is that they will stare at the clerk that is on the phone with a why-aren't-you-hanging-up-the-phone-to-help-me look. Personally, that look makes me take a little longer answering the telephone person's question.

2) I remember a time in one of the stores where I worked when an irate man charged through the door and aimed for me at the counter. He slammed the alternator he was carrying down on the counter in front of me and demanded his money back. Thankfully, the manager was right beside me and I was able to shrink back, watch the encounter and keep my head on my body. The alternator was supposedly defective and he didn't want another one. Now, I can understand being frustrated at the situation one finds oneself in, but there's no need to come in biting people's heads off and spitting them out for shark chum.

3) Another time, two women came into the store to return a battery (normally a non-returnable item) that they had just bought at another store a few miles away. Their reason for the return? Because we didn't install batteries. Well, excuse us for not being a garage!! We sell parts; we do not install them. First of all, why didn't they ask first? Secondly, when they found out that there would not be an installation at the store, why did they buy it? But no, those questions can't be voiced because that would not be good customer service. But they can come inside with a stupid reason for a return because they are the customer.

4) I have already mentioned being berated over nothing in this post. I do not understand why people think they have the right to talk down to and berate a person that is trying to help them with their situation. It certainly doesn't make the customer service agent want to help him and also garners bad feelings all the way around.

In short, people on both sides of the customer service fence, agent and client, need to realize that good manners, friendly attitudes, and respect will go a long way in fostering a good relationship and will keep a lot of the stress out of helping the public. But then again, I have come to realize that customer service agents will have to bare the brunt of this burden because people today are becoming more and more demanding and are exhibiting less patience and gratitude towards their fellow man.

Until next time, be kind towards your customer service agent. I realize there are some lazy, inconsiderate dopes servicing the public now, but for the most part, we really do want to help you with your problem. Have a little patience and we will do our best to make you happy.

Virtuous Woman

Proverbs 31:10-31 describes in detail what makes a virtuous woman. Today on Mother's Day, I am going to go through each verse and share a little about my mother with each one. By my calculations, she is more than qualified to be listed in the Virtuous Woman Hall of Fame.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. My mom is definitely worth more than this precious gem. There is not even a way to calculate her value to me.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Dad has no reason to ever doubt her faithfulness to him.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Mom always has Dad at the forefront of her brain and will go to the ends of the earth to do anything for him. To borrow a few lines from a song that describe Mom to a tee, there "ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough to keep [her] from" doing for her man!

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Mom never shies away from a job and never considers a task, no matter how menial, beneath her.

She is like the merchant's ships: she bringeth her food from afar. Mom looks high and low, near and far, to find food for family.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. Mom has always risen early to prepare for the day ahead and is willing to share with anyone that helps her.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. Mom labored day and night in the garden to provide us with food for the winter.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. I don't know how many times I saw Mom go on when she had already passed her daily supply of strength. She knew she had to continue to make sure that the job was done.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. Mom knows good quality and will not let anything leave her house if it's not up to her high standards. She also does not let a late hour stop her from finishing a job.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. While Mom was never much is a seamstress, she didn't allow that fact to keep her from using a thread and needle to attend to anything that needed repair.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Mom has always given to anyone that needs help and is willing to give them all she has to help with their needs.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for her household are clothed with scarlet. Mom made sure, and continues so to this day, to make sure her family is will clothed for any kind of circumstance.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry: her clothing is silk and purple. Mom never looks sloppy or tacky. She always makes sure she looks her best even if she's just going to the garden.

Her husband is known at the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Everybody knows who my dad is because my parents are well known as an example for a good marriage.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Mom has always looked for ways to make ends meet with the household budget.

Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Mom is a pillar of strength and knows how to act in an honorable manner in every situation.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Mom has always been full of wisdom. Sometimes I didn't think so at the time, but she has always been proven right. She also doesn't mind telling someone something that will help them, but she never says it in an ugly manner.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Mom has never known how to sit back and "chill". It's just not a part of her makeup.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Obviously, I don't need to explain that first part. Dad never wastes an opporturnity to "brag" on his wife.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. No one can beat my mom!

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Mom has never been vain or haughty. She has always displayed a fear of the Lord that shines from within.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Mom has never needed to brag on herself because her many works are there for anyone to see and to understand.

My mom isn't perfect, but as far as I'm concerned, she epitomizes the Virtuous Woman!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!!

A Tractor and Days From the Past

I have just returned from following Dad on the tractor after the mower's blades were sharpened. We had to travel about 4 miles on county roads to return home. I stayed close behind him with the hazard lights on to warn people of a slow-moving vehicle.

While following him home, I begin to wax a bit nostalgic for days gone by. I remembered growing up on the farm and learning to drive that same tractor. It was an exciting day when I was able to go by myself to the pasture or the corn field to pull the manure spreader around making sure all of the area was covered in freshly gathered cow manure. I felt like I was a big shot because I could drive the tractor away from the farm for a short distance by myself and operate a big (at the time) piece of machinery.

The one task I never could master was backing up the tractor with the trailer or manure spreader attached. The day Dad tried to teach me will always be good for a laugh. He told me to try to back the spreader under the ledge so he could fill it with the manure. Well, I tried over and over and over to back it straight. Dad tried over and over and over to teach me. I became more frustrated as did Dad. Finally, he motioned in a not so subtle way for me to remove my carcass from the tractor seat and allow him to show me how it was done. Of course, he backed it up in short fashion and I felt like a dufus. Since then, I have never learned or attempted to back up anything with a trailer. (I guess I shouldn't say anything about Mom and bowling, huh?)

I miss those days sometimes. Don't get me wrong! I never had any interest whatsoever in operating the farm. But when I have to follow Dad on the tractor dodging racing vehicles and being saluted with one finger, I think about now much nicer it was when people remained calm when they came upon a tractor on the road and actually waited for the appropriate time to pass as opposed to racing around it like Tony Stewart at Daytona. Now days, people don't have the time to take it easy and a slow tractor just infuriates them to no end. I think it's time for a little more "tractor time".

Until next time, watch out for tractors....they may be pulling manure spreaders! :-)

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

My title pretty much sums up my day. I felt as if I was in one long scream from 8 AM until I left work at almost 6 PM. I knew it would be bad today because my co-worker was on his last day off, but even I was taken aback by the ferocity of the day. On Friday evening, I had tried to make sure I was caught up so I wouldn't have a mound of orders to place first thing today. I managed to succeed with that endeavor, but it didn't take long before the orders started pouring in this morning. For most of the morning, I was placing orders and answering questions with reckless abandon without getting much ahead, but by lunch time, I had the pile down to a very manageable level.

Alas, I went to lunch (a little late mind you!) and I came back to a stack of orders and questions that weighed at least 10 pounds! On top of that, I had 14 voice mails! The first order of business was to listen to all the voice mails and then work them in amongst the paper orders/questions. After a short while, I found out the answers and then distributed the papers back to the ladies and asked them to help me call the customers back. I felt like a chicken running around the yard with my head cut off. As the day wore down to it's last few minutes, I gave up trying to place all the orders and just answered the questions as best as I could. I stockpiled the orders and late questions in my in-box for tomorrow morning. At least my co-worker will be back which will be a big help! I told him before he left that he had better enjoy it now because my time for vacation is coming up soon. Then it will be pay back time! I still have a pile in my in-box for tomorrow morning, but I think that all will go more smoothly since I will have help. At least I hope so!

Until next time, have a screamless week! I certainly want one!