Parental fear is a scary thing!!!

Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with my friend, Mark. Apparently, Mark’s son, ‘Eric’ is devastated because his girlfriends parents have decided ‘Jill’ can’t go to the Senior Prom with him. These two kids have been dating all through their senior year and are crazy about each other. Going to the Senior Prom is an important date in the lives of teenagers.

But apparently at Jill’s house, foolishness, fear, and oppression reign supreme.

The problem is, Jill’s parents want her to be a virgin when she gets married. Fine. That’s not actually the problem, the problem is how they intent to ensure that happens. Eric and Jill, despite raging hormones, have respected that all year. Both are good kids. They are in sports, have great grades, and thus far have had good respectful relationships with their parents.

But for reasons unknown,… perhaps they’ve heard the term, “Off like a prom dress!”, Jill’s parents are now afraid that if the kids go to prom, the dirty deed will happen. So in their vast wisdom, they have decided no prom. Yep! That’ll fix it!

"While you're at it, why don't you just put her in a burka!"

Am I missing something obvious here? That is the most foolish thing those people could possibly do. Do they think the prom is the only place or time that ever happens? Helloooo???

#1 - If those kids were going to do it, it probably would have happened by now.
#2 – If it was ‘planned’ to happen on prom night, keeping her home from the prom will just delay it. It will just happen the NEXT time the kids are together.
#3 – Telling two teenagers, “We won’t allow you to do this or that,” is the surest way to ensure it does indeed happen. Teenagers are programmed genetically to test their boundaries. Kids will rebel if kept under a thumb.

Eric and Jill have maintained their own discipline throughout their entire Senior year. If the parents think things are getting too cozy, stopping them from going to the prom is not the way to keep Jill ‘safe’. How about sitting the kids down and TALKING to them about these concerns. They could even write up a little contract and have the kids sign it! What it all boils down to, is you can’t tell a teenager “I forbid that.”

If you give kids the tools and the trust to make their own good decisions, it’s amazing how often they will do the right thing.

What a great weight loss program...

I have found that being single is certainly good for my 'girlish-figure'. A couple of years ago, while single, I got down to 121 lbs. Wow!

Well, in the 2 weeks that I've been in Portland, I've lost 7 lbs!

It's just an obvious fact that when you're in a relationship, there is a lot of cooking and eating going on all the time. It's such a social thing! But when you're single, wa-la!, no cooking, hence no eating. (Well, a lot less, anyway!)

Yep, I'm wearing a bikini again, and I've also died my hair blonde. I'm telling you, I am HOT now! It's amazing when I walk the beach how many people just stare. It's wonderful being the most photographed woman on the beach!

giggle....

I have ANOTHER job interview on Wednesday!
And since I already HAVE a job, I'll have the courage to fanagle a bit on pay.

...giggle...

Hootin’ mad!

Oh,…. I’m ticked!
I am ticked off!

I have been butchered!

Wait, let me back up...

A while back, My friend, Apryl, in Anacortes, (Grace Under Fire), gave me the best haircut I’ve ever had.

She cut my hair into a really cute wedge. Long on the top, with a short beveled edge around the back. This cut works great on me because my hair naturally tries to grow straight forward, and the wedge makes that work for me instead of against me. It suited my face and my busy lifestyle. Basically, it was the first, and so far the only, truly wash and wear hairdo I’ve EVER had. I loved it, and I received so many compliments on it.

Well, moving from Anacortes, I knew Apryl would not be able to cut my hair. So I asked a few girlfriends in the Portland area for a good stylist, and went to get my hair cut. I took photos of my cute wedge. Long on the top, with a short beveled edge around the back.

AAAaaaaahhhhhh!!! That nasty bitch apparently had never seen a wedge in her life!!! She just layered it all over like 90% of the short haircuts out there! My wedge is GONE! GONE I tell you! I am so pissed!

That does it! As soon as this cut grows out, (and that's gonna take at least 2 months!!!) I’m driving to Anacortes, and I’m going to have Apryl do it! I don’t care if it costs $500! (Well, ok, maybe I do…)

"Look at me! Look at me! I'm so ticked off,... I'm MOLTING!!! "

~ Iago from Disney's Aladdin

I start tomorrow!

Tomorrow I start my new job at Dennis Seven Dees Garden Center. I will be at the Cedar Hills location. There are actually 5 Seven Dees Nurserys. 3 'Dennis' Seven Dees locations and 2 'Drakes' Seven Dees locations.

They are starting me at a fairly good hourly rate, and the manager said if I live up to the rave reviews that my references, (past employers) gave me, I would probably get a raise soon. Yippee-skippee!

In case you're wondering about the strange name, 'cuz I was curious about it so I asked:

Basically, Dad (back in the 40's and 50's), had seven kids, all their names started with D. So he named his nursery Seven Dee's. Well, Dad retired years ago, and only Drake and Dennis had an interest in the company business, so they took over, but quickly realized they have very different ideas of how the business should be run. So there are both, Dennis Seven Dees and Drake Seven Dees. ODD.

I HAVE A JOB! YES!!!

Yipeee! I thought I was too late, but I've been hired at a garden center!

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

I don't know much on details, I just got the message on my phone last night. He wants me to come in this morning and fill out paperwork, and discuss the 'details'.

Sunshine! Butterflies! Birdies! MONEY!!!!!

It's at Dennis 7 Dee's Garden Center. It's a well-known center that has been around since the 50's. It's fairly close too.

Yipeeeee!!!

They say ya gotta spend money to make money....

Looks like I got to Portland too late to get a job at a garden center. It appears everyone is done hiring for the season. But maybe that's not so bad....

Oddly enough, I’ve found several jobs on craigslist for sewing and seamstress work. My seamstress business was just starting to take off when I left Anacortes, there seemed to be a need for it up there. But there seems to be a need here, too.

The tricky part is, REAL seamstress work requires a second sewing machine, a serger. I have enough money coming back from taxes to buy the serger. I feel like I should do this, buy the 2nd machine, and vigorously seek out sewing jobs.

What the heck, I’ve got a skill that not everyone has. I’ve got the equipment and tools (well, most of it!). And if I find a real job, I can always continue sewing for extra income.

But it’s so very scary trying to be self employed. Especially when you have to make ends meet on your own. I mean, sure I can still continue to try to look for a ‘regular’ job, while I do seamstress work.

I just don't know if I should spend the money. They say you have to spend money to make money. Oh, what to do??? To buy the serger, or not to buy the serger! It's not that expensive, and heaven knows I could use the work. I guess it’s the right thing to do huh?

But according to Kate, since when do I worry about doing the right thing? Butt-head.