Mood:  a-ok

I really do need to get this blog thing down.  I could have something to say, more than once or twice a year.  I read my last blog and other than my spelling of sweat for sweet, I am not sure what I was leaving to watch...Bare Back Riding ?  Where did that come from?

 Larry and I went to the local casino and played awhile. I won my money back then spent it again.  After it became apparent, gambling is not the best way to make a living we went to the only other source of entertainment in this area, Wal-Mart.  I ran in to a nurse I worked with at our local hospital before they presented me with my cardboard box and a "thank you for 24 years, but we don't need you any longer " farewell.  I assume someday I will get over that and lose the bitterness I feel towards the administration of that place, but not right now.  I can't help but feel some satisfaction in the fact that the hospital is not prospering, in fact, it is doing very bad.  It has beds for 115 patients and has been runing about 40.  That is bad.  I told the powers that be when they laid me off, that I believe in two things: 1 - I work where I am suppose to work, that I am dedicated to my work and I will be wherever, God puts me and 2 - what goes around comes around, that Karma thing can bite you in the butt and I think they might be discovering Karma.  Ho, Hummm.  Guess I should feel bad for them, but not!.  When the administration treats their employees so badly, they can't expect positive feelings about them in the community. 

Sooo glad I am in a good place working.  I really love my job.  People at the school are all treated with dignity and respect.  What a novel idea. 

 My special friend in Florida was diagnosed with the the C not long ago, but she is doing very well.  I know few people who have the strength and dignity she has so I know she will get through this with the strength and grace that is so evident in her spirit. 

 Courtney, Chad and my new co-worker Kim, are going to NYC for fall break.  We will get to visit with Benn and meet his girlfriend, Michelle.  I am so excited.  Once again, we are preparing to be bumped for free tickets if the opportunity arises. We have decided to take whatever seats we can get and meet up again in NY if we get split up.  Should be an adventure. Everytime I go to NYC something unusual happens. 

Will try to stay on top of this a little better, but it is getting in to my bedtime, so will close for now.

Posted by grannyglenn at 12:23 PM

Updated: Tuesday, 25 September 2007 5:54 PM

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Mood:  celebratory

Gee, how can I let so long go by between my blogging.  I see my last entry was right after my NYC Trip and I had just started working at DHS.  I am currently between jobs again. Courtney said I had one job for 24 years and have had three in the past year.  Yea that's true.  I was happy at DHS but did not think that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life so when an opening came up for the local school system as a counselor, I checked into it and guess what I am the official counselor of the middle school.  Since I don't have an education degree, I have to be alternative certified by the state.  So I have to take three test, go before a state board and pay a butt load of money to be certified.  I have taken two of the tests and have a year to take one more, I am going to take both the other tests available so I can be certifed for K-12 in case I do want to move around.  I am excited I think I will like it.  I took a couple of weeks off between the two jobs so I could have some time off but with the flood of the century, I have been busy with Salvation Army doing disaster relief.  What a mess, but that is another story.   Before I left DHS I helped Redneck Diva get on parttime.  She will do a good job and I was feeling guilty leaving the staff shorthanded so I  sent her their way.  They hired her on the spot and I think it is working out for everyone.  I am going to miss everyone there, but I will be working close with the school social workers so that will keep me connected.

 I am planning on another NY trip in October and am excited about the new job.  Tonight I sit here  with my too fat dog who is recovering from a reoccurent seizure and wants nothing more than to lean on me while I type.  She is sweat and is getting old and not as healthy as she used to be.  It is sad, but she is happy most of the time.  Life is gooood, so often I thank God I don't have to work at the hospital any longer with people who have money as the primary importance. 

I will try to blog more often and keep all my one or two friends up on my boring life.  Gotta go, bare back riding is coming on.

Posted by grannyglenn at 5:15 PM

Updated: Tuesday, 25 September 2007 12:16 PM

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Mood:  incredulous

Wow!  A weekend in NYC with my favorite daughter, son, niece and best friend - what more could one ask.  I think Allison did indeed begin to believe she is the princess, I mean after all, we were asking people to please clear the lane, the princess has arrived.  It probably took a week to just pull her head out of the clouds once she got back home.  Had a great trip if you don't count the two nights we slept in the airport, up from the one expected night we planned on sleeping in the airport.

Allison came Tuesday night and we finished my packing and tried to get some sleep, she is like everyone else in this family, a night owl.  Wednesday, we went to Woody's, a little Route 66 cafe that has been in business since the 40's, and had breakfast then off to Wal-Mart to get the stuff to make the see me sign for the Today show.  We got home and finished it up by noon when Courtney got off work.  Then we rushed to pick up Gail and off to Tulsa.  This is the first time I have flown to NYC out of Tulsa and was excited about this as Kansas City is not just 1.5 hours away but 3 hours.  Our flight was at 5:00 so we had time for dinner and to get settled.  Allison worked on some of her homework while we waited. 

As some may know, my flight companions are always on the lookout to be bumped from our flight - that reads free tickets.  So when they announced they were overbooked, I was up before the announcement was finished.  They had room for two to fly nonstop to Newark but not all of us, so I passed it up.  Had I known, I would have sent Courtney and Allison on but who was to know our future in Tulsa.  We were loaded on our fight and off we were going...to the end of the runway anyway.  There we waited over an hour before the pilote announced that Chicago was closed and we would have to go back in the terminal.  We shouldn't miss our flight out of Chicago because they weren't letting any flights out either.  You wanna bet?  Missed it.  Next flight was 6:00 AM. 

 Didn't get to NYC until 10:00 and Benn of course is at work. 

More to come.

Posted by grannyglenn at 1:25 PM

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Mood:  happy

Four days away from NYC.  I will pick Allison up Tuesday night and we will have Wednesday morning to fix her sign for the Today Show that we are going to on Friday.  We have museums, shops, food and at least one show to fit into Thursday,Friday, and Saturday before we stay up all night and head home on Sunday.  I have found several museums on the net that I think will appeal to an 8 year old an a couple to appeal to me.  I have pictures of purses my friends want and an order for chocolate popcorn.  I am taking a ham because it is hard to buy a full ham, usually Benn shops at deli's and grocery stores are not usually easily accessible. 

 I will be out of the office Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, then the next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Then in November I start my big training that is four weeks in Norman, OK.  I come home on weekends but it will be long days and nights away from home. My new job has a LOT of training.  Working with children in child welfare is different than medical social work.  I am always amazed at what my supervisor spots in houses when we make a walk through visit.  I never noticed the cans of spray or deodorizers in each room which to her says someone tried to make a quick clean and are trying to cover up odors.  I guess I will get to that is what I see.  Thus the reason for the training. 

Anyway, did I say that I am getting excited about our trip.  Subways, hotdogs, street vendors and characters welcome, coming my way.

Posted by grannyglenn at 10:55 AM

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Mood:  rushed

Twelve Days away - Isn't there a song about that with Christmas...

On the First Day of New York City, my 8 year-old niece said to Me, Take me to NYC Please

On the Second Day of NYC, my niece said to me,

Two trips a flying and take me to NYC Please

On the Third Day of NYC, My neice said to me,

Three gals a running, two trips a flying and a take me to NYC please

On the Fourth Day of NYC, My niece said to me,

Four including me, three gals a running, two trips a flyin' and a take me to NYC please.

On the Fifth Day of NYC, My niece said to me,

Five days in all

Four including me, three gals a running, two trips a flyin' and a take me to NYC please

 On the sixth day of NYC, My niece said to me,

I'll eat six Nathan Hot Dogs, Five days in all, four including me, three gals a running, two trips a flyin', and a take me to NYC please.

 On the seventh day of NYC, My niece said to me,

I'll eat six Nathan Hot Dogs, Five days in all, four including me, three gals a running, two trips a flyin', and a take me to NYC please. 

On the seventh day of NYC, My niece said to me

Seven Seats at Broadway, Six Nathan Hot Dogs, Five days in all, four including me, three gals a running, two trips a flyin', and a take me to NYC please.

On the eighth day of NYC, My niece said to me

More to come...

Have to think about that more to finish it...

Anyway, we are leaving in just 12 days, 12 days from now I will be on a play to NYC.  We have to change planes in Chicago which is sometimes a real trip but I think we have time to get to the next gate.  I am taking a blanket and hoping to put the niece down to name every chance I get because she is not used to staying up late and we will not get to Newark until midnight and it will be another hour before we get to Benn's apartment, so she and the rest of us will be dragging.

I am so glad my friend Gail gets to go.  She is trying to get her daughter in Florida to met us there.  That will be cool.  If she can't we will have to plan another trip with Lori in mind. One of the supervisors at work has said she would love to go sometime, so we might need a big girls NY trip as well. This trip is for niece with kid things in there.  I am sooo looking forward to it.

Friday night at Granny's means pizza and gambling so guess I better go count my gambling stash.

Posted by grannyglenn at 12:36 PM

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Mood:  quizzical

I decided I would read other blogs linked from Ramblings of a Redneck Diva since I know she is quite entertaining and thought her friends might be as well.  And they are but "LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT BABIES AND DROOL".  How do all these young moms have time to do this blog thing?  I was remembering when my now - they are grown and didn't end up in prison or pregnant at 14 - kids were toddlers and for the life of me, can't recall how I would have had time to sit at a computer and converse with myself or others.  Now it is true that the closest thing I had to a computer was the electric typewritter I borrowed from my sister (her husband had the good job at the plant remember - my typewriter was a manual with the little ding at the end of each line to remember to do the return with the right hand pinkie. 

I went back to school when my little boy was 2.5 and I was 6 months pregnant with my little girl.  For the first three years of her life, I was doing homework and running to school.  Then I went right to work at the Department of Human Services where we could have health insurance for the first time.  When the hospital asked me to come to work for them, I actually took a small cut in pay to be able to do something I thought would make a difference in people's lifes.  After 25 years there, it seems everthing I did with my life was flushed down the toilet when my career ended at the hospital.  I thought I would work there until I retired, another 12 years.  I counted on the retirement package that was promised me and it is all gone - well not totally, but most.  I feel betrayed.  I gave that hospital my entire adult working life, it wasn't just a job to me but darn it, my life. I think I feel somewhat like I did after the divorce.

I married someone I had known since I was 14 years old.  I thought I would be married to him for the rest of my life.  That we would raise our children together and someday rock our grandbabies.  But he didn't keep up his bargain and after many years of a bad marriage, I got out.  It was the best thing I did in my life.  My only regret was that I did not leave earlier and get my kids out of that before the situation had such an impact on their lives.  In some ways, I regret that I did not leave the hospital ealier on my own accord before I invested so much in a corporation that does not care about it's employees or it's patients.

But I digress - WHERE THE HECK DO THESE YOUNG MOMS FIND THE TIME TO DO ALL THIS BLOGGING.  I can't seem to keep up with it and my life is much slower than it used to be as far as family goes.  Doesn't anyone out there talk about anything other than their baby spit-up or cooking?  Here I sit with my too large dachsaund dog laying at my feet and the only meal will come in from out and consider where my life is and where it has been. 

I am starting my life all over at 50 - family and husband will remain the same. Wonder where the next 50 will take me? I think I might finally be learning that one day at a time thing and stop and smell the roses thing.  I promise to not assume anything will remain the same because when you least expect it, someone shows up with a cardboard box to stuff your life in and move on.  Only the memories and friendships remain.

Posted by grannyglenn at 7:43 AM

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Mood:  happy

28 years ago today at 6:35 PM at the age of 22, I gave birth to a tiny little baby girl.  She frowned and worried about the world around her and today she still worries about the known and unknown.  I started college in June because her idiot biological father - remember we are divorced, wanted to move back to Miami OK.  I wanted to move back to California.  But nooo, he wanted to come here, but OH how I digress.  I was actually due to deliver on October 10 but gee I had midterms coming up and was worried about being out of school too much.  I found that this average student could actually be a A student and wanted to maintain 4.0 if possible - I graduated with a BS and a 3.89 average three years later.  I went to my doctor in the morning and he said I could come to the hospital after I finished my classes and he would induce.  I went to one class then got to thinking about what if my water broke or something really embarassing like that happened so I skipped my next class and went shoppping instead.  although I will never forget the instructors face when I went up to him after class and asked for my work while I was gone.  He said so you are having a C-section, and I said no I was going in today because I was in labor.  He squeaked out - "Now??"  Well almost.  I went to TG&Y, a store taken out by Wal-Mart and a yard sale first.  About 4:00, I decided it might be time to go to the hospital since I was having more discomfort and she came into the world at 6:35.  I stayed overnight and went home the next morning.  Something just not done back then but I had a little 2.5 year old little boy that had never stayed away from Momma before and I was scared to death for him.  He had stayed with his Aunt Carla and well we just had a different parenting style and I was afraid it just wouldn't be comfortable for either of them. 

She was so tiny, barely 6# and 15.5 inches long.  You could see the blood through her little arms she seemed so thin.  I guess that had to do with being encouraged to arrive rather than coming on her own.  She did not have time to get that fat on.  I remember looking at her and thinking what have I done.  I was not working and her dad made $600. a month. We were living in his grandmother's house and I was going to school.  What if I didn't have the money to feed her or buy the clothes she needed?  What if her brother hated her and I couldn't give them both enough love and attention?  I wonder where she got her worry gene??  My sister's husband had a great job at "the plant" and I was already dressing my little boy in hand me downs from her daughter (Dont tell Benn he wore girl clothes) and could no way provide for my kids as well as she could hers. 

But someway I did.  Both Courtney and Benn are wonderful adults.  Funny and confident and not afraid to try new things.  When I see her manage a roomful of kindergarteners and how much the parents appreciate her calm spirit, I am so proud.  She is my best friend and I enjoy her company.  The pain of childbirth is only a memory - although I still have bragging rights of doing it all natural except for the little help in the water breaking department.  She never brought me any pain or heartache growing up, she was always an easy kid to be around. 

Today is her birthday, my baby I grew up with.  I am so proud.

Posted by grannyglenn at 1:22 PM

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Mood:  a-ok

After one week, I have finally met my boss and the foster families I work with.  I think it is going to go well.  Work seems to finally be back on track.

 Getting ready for that NYC trip.  I have never gone to the city that something really out of the ordinary happened.  Last time, I was there my friends and I found two young men who want to move here and go to school.  Hasn't happened yet but they were very nice.  Met them on the subway.  Small town Starlite was afraid they were terrorist but I think not.  HOwever, after talking on the cell with them, I am sure my phones are monitored by George Jr. 

Nothing to ponder today and computer is slow enough to drive me nuts.  So for now - have to get ready for work!

Posted by grannyglenn at 8:12 AM

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Mood:  celebratory

After 25 years, I am going back to work for the state Department of Human Services.  I start tomorrow and as silly as it may sound I am a little nervous. And excited.  I know I am going to like the work and I know some of the employees already so it is not like walking into entirely new territory but I am nervous.  Because I am being hired on an emergency basis, I have been able to make arrangements to have the days off I have already made plans, so I get to keep my ticket to NYC.  I plan to keep my part time job as well, that is my "fun" money. 

Small Town starlite and I are going to NYC on her fall break which is Oct 19-22.  We are leaving on the evening of the 18th so will have to take the afternoon off.  We are taking my 8 year old niece.  We will have a blast.  Her parents said she could go if I will take her to some museums and make it educational since she will be missing 3 days of school.  I took her when she was 5 but her dad went with us then and she was really too young.  She did enjoy Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and the giant Toys R Us but I think the rest of it just went over her head so this time she will learn more from it.  I plan on taking her to MOMA, the museum of modern art, that recently reopened in Manhatten and to Ground Zero as well as Central Park and other places she will see on TV and hear about in the news.  I would like to bike the burroughs but in spite of my nagging, niece has still not learned to ride a bike.  I am looking forward to the trip but one bad thing is the time of the flights.  We won't get into NY until about 12 AM and have to leave on Sunday at 6 AM.  So I am taking her a blanket and pillow and telling her she needs to sleep every opportunity she gets.  We will probably go to the airport about midnight on Sunday and stay the night in the airport because I have missed a flight before when car service didn't work out on early am flights.  She can sleep while we are waiting around.  It has been a year since I went to the city and a couple of years for Courtney so I know she is excited.  We plan on getting some shopping done on Canel street so if you want one of those high dollar purses for knock off prices...let me know.

 Best get to bed, real work startes tomorrow

Posted by grannyglenn at 9:26 PM

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My last blog said something about summers off and looking forward to a new great job, well, NOT.  I did take the this is perfect job, only to find that the job was great but the administration was not.  We had a totally different mindset of how to manage.  Basically, I like to treat grownups like adults and they like to treat them like pimply 16 year olds who work for McDonalds.  I truely did not understand when a teacher asked me if she could go to her car for something.  Now this is when no children were present and her car is basically outside the school door but she thought she needed permission.  Should have been a clue. It wasn't long before I saw my management style and this style didn't click so before the ol' contract was signed I suggested the administration find someone who wants to treat professionals like school kids and I was out.  By By summers off - but I get to keep my integrity.  I may not ever manage again, if that is the new way of treating people, because I just can't do that.  The time I was at this school, the staff and I worked well together but the administration spy was just too difficult to deal with. 

 So here I am unemployed again.  Guess it is time for a trip.  I think I will go to New York this time.  So far since loosing my job, I have been to Florida twice and Vegas once.  Time to go again, before I get trapped in a job again.

I did get a call from the State Department of Human Services, thats the welfare office here in OK, and they want me to come to work for them in Child Welfare.  It doesn't include the investigating part, so no baby snatching for me, but more the foster care side.  I went to OK City and took the test, I did miss 2 so hope that doesn't keep me out of the running.  I just need to say when I can start.  You know as old as I am that state retirement sounds pretty good. 

Nothing exciting in Granny land, except I pick up my nephew's girlfriend's little boy today and take him shopping and to play  for a couple of hours before he goes to my nieces house to spend the night. He is a real cutie.  He is four and I have never kept him so I hope he has a good time.  I thought a couple of hours the first time will work.  I plan on taking him to Wally world so he can find something he really wants and we might find our way to the park to play.  Then Mr. Granny and I will take him to Joplin where he will spend the night with my little niece and nephew who are 7 and 4.  They will have a big time slumber party while their parents go to some concert in Kansas City. 

Planning a big trip to NYC over fall break.  Small town Starlit is going and my horse friend and past co-worker is going to meet us when she finishes a conference there.  Then we can see a play, shop on canel street and bike the burroughs before flying home together.  We will go out on Wednesday evening and get back on Sunday night.  Fast trip.  Hope our trip doesn't coincide with someone's attempt to get on the news with airplanes or anything. 

Until next time.

My life is so boring, once every few months is enough.

After all, I am still wishing for those grandbabies.

Posted by grannyglenn at 6:41 AM

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