Good Morning Jerk

I got a phone call this morning from a woman who was upset with, I'm assuming, someone that was not me. It was ever so pleasant to be greeted first thing in the morning with someone so pathetic. Why are there people like this in the world? They should be locked up in a sound proof room so that no one will have to listen to their rants anymore. So, because of that I have some ranting of my own.



I would like to address the appropriate ways to speak to people when you call a place of business for any kind of service. It seems there is some confusion on what is acceptable behavior in dealing with the folks who earn a measly penitence to assist you in your time of need.

1 - Please do not just assume that I know you and you know me. Even with Caller ID I do not know you although I can see your name on my little display. Please do not treat me like you are my long lost Aunt Bertha. Especially if you are trying to sell me something. It's kind of creepy. (I don't know which is more annoying...the screamers or the suck ups.)

2 - I may be the 4,000th person at this company that you have spoken to about this problem but I do not know what your problem is. Please do not scream at me because I have to ask a few questions. They do not pay me enough to put up with that kind of behavior. Besides I am betting you are older than two since you can use the phone so there is no reason to throw a fit. Please get a grip.

3 - I am so sorry you are having a bad day, year, decade, life...eternity. I really don't want to hear your sob story. I might feel a little sorry if your cat, dog, alligator, mother in law was recently hit by a Mac truck, but please don't use this as an excuse as to why your current bill is 6 months past due. Everyone has problems, me included. Maybe I should start sharing mine with you. We could all use some free therapy.

4 - There are many people in our office. If I happen to pick up the phone when you call back please don't think that I am the same person who answered the phone before. I wasn't and there is no reason for you to yell at me that I cut you off AGAIN! Take a few deep breaths, go to your happy spot and then begin to speak to me. Besides, I have no control over the person I or anyone else was transferring you to. If you would like to speak to his/her supervisor about the fact that his/her voice mail is full, he/she doesn't really know how to speak on the phone or he/she is a total idiot, I can transfer you to that person. But only if you play nice.

5 - Don't start your conversation accusing me of something. Even if it was me who did it, it may have been a mistake. I do make mistakes, but I know it is difficult for a person as perfect as you to understand that. Plus it makes me dislike you instantly.

6 - Please do not bad mouth other companies doing similar work. I actually work for a large corporation and not really a small company. You might be saying bad things about one of my good friends. And won't you be embarrassed when I tell you that the bad company is actually another branch of the company I work for. Also please don't say bad things about my co-workers. I actually like most of them and you will make me angry.

7 - And lastly, I am a big fan of Thumper and his amazing rule for getting along with people. And that Golden Rule is something pretty important too. Think about that BEFORE you call here. I don't like mean people and I just may ask one of the guys here to run over you with their big truck. Passive/Aggressive behavior...I am an expect!

Thank you and have a nice day!

And The Winner Is....

Veggie Mom awarded me the following lovely award. You all (or y'all as Lula says) need to travel over and pay her a visit. Plus she's got a link to Popr's which I have got to try! Thank you very much for this award!
As a recipient of this Bloggy Award, I'm required to do the following:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs for the award.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

So as requested I would like to bequeath this Brillante Award to:

1- Tara & Justin who are just too darn cute and have an entertaining blog over at Mucho Matagi. Plus Justin belongs to Carla and I have known him along time. He's getting up there in years!

2 - My cute little cousin Mandy who is living away from home in Texas with her cute hubby who is in the military and darling baby.

3 - And an award to Amy who lives over the mountain in Park City (or thereabouts...maybe Heber?) She is so talented...she may inspire me to quilt.

4 - Go visit the McEwens in Colorado. You will love the weather and the tale of Pam's life with boys and now a wedding.

There you go, four blogs that I love to read!! That I think are Brilliante and deserve a little recognition.

I Would Like To Thank The Academy

Looky what I just got.


I was awarded a blog award by Sherrie from Kaysville Mamma! Sherrie has the best blog. I still haven't gotten a chance to completely stalk her but I will! She is so cute and really is my next door neighbor...well, kind of, she does live up the freeway from me so we are practically cousins! (Her, me, Adiel and Dooce, of course!)


I have received, from Sherrie, the Lovable Blog award....can you hear the deafening cheers from the crowds? Oh wait, that is only the freeway traffic. (but in my mind I can hear them!)





Thanks so much Sherrie, you are the best!


So, in the spirit of blogging, I would like to share this blog award with Adiel. She is my inspiration for starting this blog. So, here's one for you, Adiel!

And Edward Is Back

Adiel is a saint!! This morning she walked into the office, set down her gigantic purse, (she is going to have back problems one day!) and headed toward the restroom to change out of her cheer practices clothes.

BUT....

First she made a detour by my cubbie...and....gave....me...BREAKING DAWN!!

But I have to work because I have been blog stalking all morning.

I am not sure how anyone can expect me to work with this book sitting here looking at me. I won't be able to read at home because I have to clean my "up for sale" house so it looks like no one lives there. Plus, even though he says he doesn't mind, I know my hubby hates to be ignored.

Maybe I should take an 8 hour lunch. That sounds good to me and I think it just might work.

I am a tortured soul!!

I may just hire this Ninja Kitty to beat up everyone who wants me to do something else besides read.

Edward wants me, he needs me and I must comply.

Some Fond Farewells

My Grandpa Baxter passed away in 1988, my father in 2002 and my beautiful Grandma Baxter in October of last year. Sometimes I miss them so much I can't breathe. Now my Grandpa's wife Elizabeth is getting to the point where she needs round the clock help. My wonderful aunts (my dad was an only boy in a family of 6 girls. Yikes, I'm betting he was spoiled!) went to Wyoming to pack up her house and move her into an assisted living center. Then they had a garage sale with all her belongings she couldn't keep. My aunts are completely, totally awesome. They are the cutest aunts in the world. (I can say that because I don't know your aunts so there is no contest!)

Saturday morning I made Madie and Alex get up early (8:30) and make our way to Aunt Marsha's. Aunt Marsha is the best. She was my biggest support when I was having marital problems and then finally divorced. She had been there and knew what I really needed to hear. Then when I started to date my cute new husband she was my voice of reason. She went over all the pros and all the cons and wasn't afraid to tell me what she thought of me dating someone older than me. Here she is with a painting that she was trying to sell. She still highly recommends not getting married at all...she is just too funny! She is going to be the only speaker at my funeral (someday) because I want people laughing not crying and she can accomplish that.

Alex and my niece Ashley spent most of their time sitting in shading yakking on the cell phone and enjoying a large Coke, a staple in Alex's life. Alex has the fastest fingers in the west. He had almost 3,000 text messages last month. Good thing school is out.

My dad's oldest sister Jeanene with Mindy my cousin and her boys. Mindy is the most creative person in our family. She made my dress and Madie's for my wedding last year PLUS she did all the catering. She did an awesome job. Here they are selling cupcakes and punch for all those hungry garage sale maniacs.

Here, posing on an exercise bike that is for sale (can't figure out why nobody wanted this relic) is Aunt Brenda. Starting on the right is Madie, Alex, my sister Marrla and Ashley.

And here is Aunt Diana, my Uncle Don who is married to Janene (and who most people who see him with all the aunts thinks he is a polygamist) and my exotic Aunt Bonnie. She lives in Huntington Beach so the next time you visit a Hollister store go check out the live picture of the beach. If you look to the far right you can almost see Aunt Bonnie's house. Lucky her!

Missing this morning was my Aunt Merla. I am such a good niece that I didn't even ask where she was. Sorry Aunt Merla!

And here is my cousin Rex who drove up in a 1999 BMW. I was filled with envy. This has been the car I have always wanted.

Finally, here is what we put up on our front lawn Saturday morning. I am torn about this. I love my house, love the location and have great neighbors.


BUT....my kids need to be closer to school and their friends so now we are off to find a new place to live. They say selling a house ranks right up there with Death and Divorce so here's hoping that hubby and I still like each other when we're done with this. Plus I am hoping this will make Madie want to spend more time with us. Now that is another story......

Win A Piggy Bank!!

Lynn over at After The Dust Settles is having a contest and giving away a cute Watermellon Piggy Bank. Almost like the one I gave my Mom for her birthday. This one is a brand new design and isn't even on Lynn's website.





Stop over and enter her contest. All you have to do is leave a comment. Too, too cute!

Bless The Beasts and The Children

As any mother will tell you, the claws come out on Mama Bear when someone messes with their cubs.
I only have three children of my own who sometimes remind me that I am a mom first and everything else second. I love them totally and completely. Do something to them and you will have to deal with me. Normally, I am a very nice person and I HATE confrontation and avoid it at all costs. But not with my kids. I can be Mama Bear and hunt you down (in my head) and rip you apart. (metaphorically speaking)

I have many other children besides my three. I have girls who I have taught in church who are now between 46 and 13. They are my babies too. There are hundreds of boys and girls who have been a part of my life who are like my children too. I have nieces and nephews who I would give my life for and I hate to see any of them made unhappy by someone else.

Here at work I like being the Office Mom. Brett (love him, miss him) dubbed me Mama Marrdy, I title I really enjoy. I like taking care of my "kids" and protecting them.

Last week there was some blogging drama going on with a cute fellow blogger that we all love. She was hurt and we were sad. We were all willing to beat up this person who hurt her. We could have kicked some serious cyber butt. The person who hurt her was an anonymous blogger.

Blog stalking is fine. I did it for a long time before starting my own blog. But there are certain rules of blogging that sometimes people forget. They think if a comment is left anonymously they can say whatever they like and not take into account the bloggers feelings. We bloggers are, after all, real people with real feelings. Blogging is something we do for fun, not something we do so people can try to hurt others.

My Mama instincts came out last night. Someone said something not very nice to my Adiel. I was upset and I wanted to cause someone some hurt. My poor husband put up with my ranting and finally told me that both of us should take the high road because it was obvious that anonymous got just the reaction she was looking for. So high road here I come...with my claws out.

So my advice to everyone is be nice. Like Thumper says, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"

AMEN!!!