We had the big final ending celebration to United Way yesterday at the Union Hall, I am now ready to write about the entire thing and experiences this year.
I would like to tell you about my team, Jose Morales, Brent Dozier, Gladys Evans, Madarol Thomas, Markeyus Franks, Jhanifor Griggs, Luke Culver, Stephanie Estrada, Tracy Catchings, and Adelpha Warren and Kim Azard. This was a cracker jack team; I only knew a few of them before starting this year. When Mary Linhart, our Chief Steward, told me who I would be working with, I was thrilled.
Our very first meeting I told the group our goal, $10,000.00 in two and a half months time, stretched over four buildings. Not one of them blinked an eye lid, they all said ok, and went to work.
Jose Morales was my calming influence, when I was stressed and ready to go out of my mind, he talked me down and let me know it was ok to delegate, which I did! Thank you Jose for having my back and letting me know it was ok not to do everything myself. Brent Dozier was my master meat smoker and grill master extraordinaire; he smoked brisket, turkey legs, grilled hamburgers, hotdog and hot links. I don’t think he slept the entire time; he has an amazing spirit and an attitude that should be bottled and sold. Thank you Brent for always being there and for your constant good mood, it was a balm.
This was Gladys Evans second year to do this, she is such a hard worker and also my conscience. She was there to call me on the carpet if I became crazy and bring me back down to earth if any idea was too crazy, she is a good friend and a great example of dynamite in a small package. She is quality leadership material and I look up to her in so many ways, Gladys thank you for always being at the ready and for your selfless commitment to our goal.
In our Lakeside building we had the unstoppable team of Madarol Thomas and Markeyus Franks; together they were a force to be reckoned with. They had a healthy competition between each other to see who could raise the most cash at each fundraiser that was held. It was all in good fun, and made each event a must attend happening. With the support of OM Adrian Ray, they were the building to beat, and no one did, no other building came close to our Lakeside location. When it looked like we were not going to make it, I called Adrian and said, we need your help, he said Angie I got this. And, wow, did he ever, without the support Adrian, we would never have made it.
At our Central location there was, Jhanifor Griggs at the ready, she even enlisted the help of her husband and son to make sure that there were enough hands on deck to serve the masses. And serve she did, soliciting, going door to door to business to make sure we had enough to raffle off, and later cooking and serving. What a terrific attitude, even with a full house she was always chipper and had a good attitude.
At our Roundtable location we had Luke Culver, Stephanie Estrada, Tracy Catchings, and Adelpha Warren, doing whatever it took to get things done. This building was far away from the rest and they were doing it all, working well together, delegating duties, and making sure it was all getting done. In the middle of United Way, this location had a fellow employee that was tragically lost; the group switched gears and had several fund raisers for the surviving family. They truly showed what having an amazing heart can do; it was a privilege to work with you.
Last but not least I would like to give a shout out to my friend Kim Azard; I was only able to utilize Kim when I was at our Glennville location. I would like to tell you all that my friend Kim has an amazing heart, a servants attitude and a willingness to do what it takes. She is simply fantastic, thank you Kim for not only your willingness to work with us on United Way but for your friendship.
When we had our celebrations at each location, the Lakeside folks generously allowed Juan Espinoza to come out and DJ each event. He was such a joyous addition to our team, I have to say he was just phenomenal, if I ever have an event that I need a DJ for I will be hiring him and I suggest everyone else do the same. The music he provided made each celebration so incredibly richer. Thank you Juan for being our music man!
United Way came at a time in my life when I was at a low point, I was quickly losing faith in humanity, and that people would always do the right thing. The people in this group have restored my faith, not with their words, but with their actions, their genuine desire to help people and willingness to do the hard work to ensure that we make the funds to reach our goal. I am so proud to have been a part of this team; I cannot express fully what it has meant to me. You all should be proud of your accomplishments; you have humbled me and awed me with your greatness.
Thank you to my family who serves
Today is Veterans day, so I would like to take a moment and say thank you. Thank you to members of my family who have served this country, from my cousins, nephew, brothers and my amazing uncles who served in WWII, and the uncle who was in Vietnam, thank you. Thank you for giving up family time, for sacrificing your health, peace of mind and yes even in some cases your life so that the rest of us could enjoy health, time with our families, peace of mind and lives here at home. Thank you for defending our right to speech, even the ones that speak out against what you do, you fight for their right to say the words.
Thank you for giving your time away from your children so mine could have me here. Your selflessness does nothing but amaze me, I am in awe of you and your spirit of servitude.
Whenever I see someone in uniform or someone who is wearing some sort of insignia I want to hug them, I think of everything that they have done for this country and I am moved to tears.
There has been a member of my family in some branch of service since its inception in the 1700’s. We are a proud American family who has sent sons and daughters to fight wars, to quell rebellions, to keep the peace, we have prayed for your safe return.
I pray for all men and women who are currently serving, wether they are members of my family or not. I pray for their safe return, I pray for their families, that they will be taken care of, that the children of our soldiers will have a safe place to live here in the United States, that they will have enough to eat and that they will have peace of mind regarding their parents.
My heart is full of pride knowing that my family has contributed and continues to contribute to the safety of this great country.
Dear Friends;
On Facebook I have been noticing that some of my friends are having pre holiday depression. Well I would like to share my routine that I perform every morning, it alleviates all sorts of emotional and self loathing ailments.
I wake up, go into the bathroom turn on the light, look in the mirror and say “OMG is that me? Wow! God must love me to make me so amazingly beautiful! I can’t believe I get to spend the day with me!!” Then I turn away from the mirror, put my glasses on and go about my day. Remember when you look in the mirror God created you, God really does love you, He does not test you, he uses situations in your life to teach you lessons. What you take from those situations, how you react to them, is all up to you.
We cannot control our circumstances, what we can control is how we react to them. So, friends, look in the mirror and realize you are amazing! A new year is right around the corner, it will be amazing, it will be full adventure, fun, life.
I hope each and every one of my friends has a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great Christmas, full of laughter, family and friends. My fervent wish for everyone is that the new year brings a clarity of your life, may it be full of wonderment, adventure, love (and I am not talking romantic love), fulfillment and a sense of peace.
Much love,
Angie
Thursday the gateway to Friday
The page is blank, it is taunting me with its whiteness, fill me it says, if you can. Perhaps one day I will not be able to, I do not look forward to the day my head is completely without thought, or I lose the ability to convey the thoughts that bounce around in there.
I live in fear of having Alzheimer’s, my mother had it, my great aunt Linnie had it; it is a truly horrendous disease. I do not believe enough attention is given to it. The absolute heartbreak of watching someone you love go into a world where you have no place and they can’t find their way back is sad. Sad is the word to describe it, I believe sad is an overused word, to me sad is a word that should be used when it is truly sad, when your heart is just broken and it seems it cannot be put back together.
Such macabre thoughts, when I am not in that type of mood, the moon is still high in the sky and it is so beautiful, I am wearing a brand new OU jersey and it is Thursday. Thursday is the gateway to Friday; I will be getting my nails done after work, so it is all good. Tomorrow is my last day to wake up at 3:00 am; I am hoping I don’t regret my decision to go to a later shift. It means more sleep, in theory more time spent with the Irishman, and hopefully to be less tired all the time. I have been on this shift for over two years and I have to admit I am exhausted, I am tired of having to go to bed by 7pm in order to get up at 3am, and I am tired of being tired all of the time. I hope this new shift is good, it also comes with an hour lunch, I have not had an hour lunch in years, there is a ton of shopping close to me, I am hoping to get Christmas shopping done in my hour lunch time. Or maybe shopping for me, or a trip to Starbucks where I can sit inside and enjoy my lunch, take my IPad and just relax for an hour, the possibilities are endless!
Full Moon
Is it just me or does everyone expect to see Oz when they walk outside and it is a full moon? No? Just me? This morning when I walked outside the moon was amazing, so full, so beautiful, so enticing and so very bright. One understands why humans have been fascinated with the moon since the beginning of time.
But the moon has a bad reputation as well; it gets blamed for turning men into hairy beasts once a month, and for turning women into raving lunatics. What is it about the moon that it is credited with and blamed for so much? Why are we so fascinated? I can’t speak for all mankind all I can speak for is myself, so here goes.
I love the moon because it reminds me that everything has a beginning as well as an ending, the moon signifies a newness for me. Renewal, renewal of the rotation of the earth; renewal of my own emotional well being. When it snows and the moon is out my soul is soothed, there is a peacefulness that cannot be found at any other time of the year. As you all know I love the snow, there is nothing like it, it is the great equalizer. When the snow covers everything it is beautiful, a wonderland of purity, when the moonlight is bouncing off of it, giving a bluish glow, it is Gods way of saying all is right with the world.
I can hardly wait for snow, I hope it snows like it did last year, it was amazing, and lasted so long, it was a gift, I know most did not see it that way, but I did. Snow and coffee are God’s greatest gifts to me, they both sooth my soul and let’s me know all is right with the world. The moon is an added bonus to those two things. A combination of all three is quite heady indeed.
Rock and Roll Love Letter
When I drive to work I need a rockin song to wake me up and make me happy to start my day. My typical go to song, “Rock and Roll Love Letter” by The Bay City Rollers. Laugh if you will, but this is the best song ever. It is my ultimate favorite song, and they are my ultimate favorite band. Yes, I said it, The Bay City Rollers, I love them, the drummer, Derek Longmuir, was my childhood crush. I loved him, I find I have a real thing for drummers, I also love Peter Criss, the original drummer from Kiss. Let’s be honest the cat makeup didn’t hurt. I don’t know what it is about drummers but they are like a beacon of light for me.
Today is Tuesday, I had a hard time waking up, could be the ambien I took last night, could be the sheer exhaustion from being ill last week and still not being up to par. I don’t know what it is, but I need sleep, I look forward to sleeping in on Saturday. Oh the time change, I shall blame it on that, there I have found my excuse.
What is everyone doing today? I am working, then I am going to the bank then to have my nails done. I need a fill, they are beginning to bug me, I needed to go this weekend, however I did not feel good enough to go, I still don’t know how long I can sit at the nail salon, but they need to be done and cannot wait another day.
I am wearing my new boots today, they are amazingly cute brown, suede knee boots. I am wearing them with a BCBG dress, that is about 3 shades lighter than the boots, I am very cute, trust me on this. Time for me to go, must play on Facebook before my break is over and I have to work, work, work!
Have a great Tuesday, find your favorite band and dance, dance, dance.
Former Lives
I was in Target yesterday, browsing their book selections, and noticed the book Cleopatra’s Daughter, which I have read. I started to think about past lives and how everyone thinks that they were Cleopatra in a former life. I do not believe I was Cleopatra in a former life, number one, she wasn’t Egyptian, she was Greek, if you look at the coins that show what she actually looked like, she was not attractive. By historical accounts she exuded confidence and that made her attractive. She married her brother, she then became a consort to Julius Caesar, and then murders her brother, and then when Caesar dies, she takes up with Marc Antony, a married man. Then commits suicide leaving her children to face their own fate, alone; no, I do not believe I was Cleopatra in a former life.
Of course that started my thinking process on other women in power, Marie Antoinette came to mind. I do not believe I was her either; she was married at 14 to the prince of France who could not consummate the marriage. For many years, until he finally had a surgery that corrected a deformity, then she was woefully out of touch with her subjects. This was her fault, she was a petulant teenager who thought of nothing but shopping. Today, not an issue, when you are a monarchy with starving peasants, huge problem; she had the opportunity to send her children to safety, she declined. They all died, no, I was not her in a former life.
Then Catherine the Great came to mind, now, this was a woman I could have been, the most powerful Czarina in all of Russia, of all time. She ruled with flare, and iron fist, she revitalized Russia, made it a great power in Europe. Her reign is considered the golden age of Russia; this is a woman I could have been in a former life. She rocked.
I don’t know if I believe in former lives, I like to think when I am done on this earth, I am done, I will get to go home and God will say job well done good and faithful servant.
Don’t it Make my Brown Eyes Blue
I just saw a story online about a new surgery that will turn brown eyes blue. Seriously. I will be honest, I have brown eyes, I never thought they were pretty, until I had Elizabeth Anne. I remember looking into her eyes and thinking she had the most beautiful brown eyes I had ever seen. It took me until she was three years old to realize she had my eyes. I would not trade my brown eye for blue for any amount in the world. I am not saying that blue eyes are not attractive, my oldest son has amazing blue eyes, my fiance has blue eyes, as does Tessa.
No what I am saying is I am happy with my eye color, I realize that God gave them to me for a reason, they go with my hair color, my skin tone, and they are beautiful. Thank you Elizabeth for teaching me that.
The only thing I would change about them would be the vision, I am legally blind without my glasses. Crazy nuts. I am thankful that none of my children have my really poor eyesight.
So today is Sunday and my stomach is not doing well, but my sinuses are less swollen. So yay for that.
I have had coffee, new flavor from Dunkin Donuts, mocha mint, it is very yummy indeed, I found it at Target, of course, my favorite store. I have always been a Target girl as opposed to a Wal-Mart girl. I love Target, for many, many reasons. I think they have great quality, good prices and friendly workers. And they wear red, I like that.
So on FB, this is thankful month, every day you are supposed to say something you are thankful for. Well I am not doing that, I will save it all up and write about it here, eventually. So be on the lookout for that huge write-up.
I just watched the movie Just Go With It, staring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, I love that movie, I must get it on DVD so I can watch it anytime I want. I cannot explain why I love that movie, I just do, I really want Jennifer Aniston’s body, she has a killer body. I know she works at it, yoga, spin classes, a personal trainer, probably a chef who specializes in low-cal, low-fat, healthy meals. I want that life. I want to not have to think about what I put in my mouth and have others make the decision for me. What is not to love about that!
Saturday
Today is Saturday, who is shocked by that revelation? Appears no one is. I am still not feeling all that great, maybe the doctor meant I would feel good later in the day. We shall see.
I am so very excited, it has happened later than I had hoped, but the high heel bug has bitten Elizabeth Anne. I have never been happier in my entire life, perhaps now she will not hurry me along when I start salivating over a pair of heel! Hmmmm?
I am loving Friday night television, Grimm is wonderful fun, Blue Bloods is so intense, and well, Sanctuary is downright compelling. I also recorded Dateline last night as they were talking about Michael Jackson’s last days. So very sad for his children.
I have not eaten today, just had a pot of coffee, which I love, I have discovered a new coffee, well new to me. Dunkin Donuts coffee, their turbo blend rocks! Woweee, I am buzzing like crazy, buzzing more than off of Starbucks coffee, and that is saying something. So excited I tried it, I will continue to try it. I bought their peppermint mocha flavor, I did not make that today, I will have it tomorrow and report back. I love all of the fall and winter flavors, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, peppermint mocha, and no points! because it is brewed coffee, not coffee treats, I am not sure how they get the flavoring in there, but God love them, I am happy the scientists are on top of coffee issues.
Well I must go now, Elizabeth has suggested Christmas presents for herself and they go on sale in one minute! Have to get there fast before her size is gone!
Peace out homies!
Empress Poblems
I have been sick all week and today has been the worst, I am hoping tomorrow is the best. I had to venture out as I was out of food, so there was nothing to do but get some groceries. There was a Starbucks in the grocery store, so I got my very first peppermint mocha of the season, probably my last. It was a whopping 11 points just for the drink, too much for just a drink, however, I might splurge once more during the season, I don’t know yet. I know what you are thinking, why didn’t you get the skinny version, well, I left of the whipped cream, what more do you people want from me.
I have a new twitter account, it is @EmpressProblems, I have decided to chronicle all of the issues an Empress of the universe has. You know deciding between boots or pumps when conquering the universe is a huge decision. One that cannot be taken lightly, and then it is serious boots, or girly heel boots, sparkly pumps or Anne Klein business pumps. It is exhausting being an Empress, and I am going to tell everyone about it in my new twitter feed.
I have a new addiction, it is a shameful addiction really, it is a show on ABC Family called the Lying Game, it is a total teenage show and I cannot help myself. The saving grace is that Helen Slater is in it, yes, Supergirl, so that is my redeeming fact.
I will be going to Target this weekend, all of the Christmas decorations are out and I love, love, love Christmas. I love the sights, the sounds, the smells, everything about it. I cannot wait to put a tree up and the lights and everything. Last year was a sparsely decorated year as we were moving and trying to get things organized. This year will be full blown decorations, baking and everything that goes with Christmas. I cannot wait to shop and get everything in order. I look forward the tradition of shopping with Elizabeth Anne. It is my favorite part of the holiday, one that I am so happy she and I began so many years ago. Elizabeth you are my favorite shopping partner.
