Three days and no new lawsuits filed...we're doing O.K.

Yes, Vernon and I are managing to get through the day with a smile on our faces, however, my poor Sara isn't doing as well. I just can't believe a judge is even going to entertain this and 2nd...I'd be surprised if the crack whore remembers to show up. I sincerely believe she will be in jail on some other charge before this goes to court so Vernon and I are moving forward...and we're dragging Sara along regardless. I spend got off 2...12 hrs shifts in Salty Yarns so I'm recouperating in the office. I'm off today and tomorrow so I'm getting lots of office work done...whoppee! Bills paid (I can hear the vendors sigh of relief as I type), and I checked my bank balance this morning and the good news....they won't bounce. I love having on-line banking...my God first thing I do when I get in is check my balance to see if I'm going to have a good day (barely enough but enough) or a great day (I can write many checks and they will all clear). My battle with IRS is still on-going but I've sent the paperwork off for what I pray will be the last time. And as long as they are satisfied, I won't have to deal with the State again either...so that's good news. And the other good news...the weather is perfect for me down here. Last night I opened my windows and the cross ventilation brought cool air and I slept like a baby (cool air and Sara got me sleeping pill to send me off to dream land)...yes, I woke up once, but got right back to sleep. So I'm a happy camper weather wise...unfortunately with temps in the 60's at night I'm afraid the visitors aren't quite as thrilled. But those with height challenges (we're fat, but doesn't height challenged sound better) it's delicious. I know the hot and muggy is coming back so I'm enjoying it now. It makes me laugh though, when people come in and say how cold it is outside....cold...it's July...it's 70 degrees ... not exactly cold and the sun is shining during the day so I'm sure on the beach they can still get a burn. I would say that it's Paradise however, our paradise has been marred a little this year what with the crack whore, etal. But give us a couple of weeks to get over it and we'll be able to laugh again. In the meantime....I hope you are having a great summer. I hope you are getting lots of stitching done....

And the Crack Whore Saga continues....

O.K., while we all took a breath this morning thinking July 4th was over ... we were soooooo wrong. Before the Crack Whore left town with the police standing guard to make sure she left our property yesterday...she went and filed an assault charge against Vernon...yes, as incredible as this sounds, that idiot went down to police station and said Vernon threw her down not only the stairs inside the building but also threw her to the ground outside as well. Poor pathetic little thing....and took her bag containing personal items (this was the bag loaded with toilet paper and paper towels from our linen closet which she broke into and mugs from sunsations which she stole). She said he called her a thief (HELLO bitch, clearly you are). Can you believe this bitch? Now we've had to contact an attorney and we've had tenants write up statements to take into court, etc, since many people witnessed the goings on for the 2 days these idiots were on the property. It is this sort of crap that ties up our court system and makes everything run so slow. But anyway, now we're going to court to fight this ass, MOSHA, thanks to the Easton Ass, and I'm still not done with IRS. The only person I'm not mad at is...Mr Grey who sent me the form I needed and asked for from the state for over a year...and in one day talking with him I got it. He must be a new employee with the state. If you work for the state I don't mean to offend, however, I believe that every tax paper...and I'm talking about those of us who pay our taxes not those who try to avoid paying....has the right to your attention and your help when forms are needed. No one knows more than a sales person how tiresome some questions might be, but when someone calls because IRS is putting a lien on them for something they need proof from the State that they don't owe...well it should be your responsibility as a person whose paycheck comes from my taxes, to do all you can to assist. .... not say, it's not our problem it's federal and I don't care what they're asking for we're giving them no information. What kind of crap is that? For instance, we had a parent come in with their daughter who had made a mistake with her knitting project which was part of a 4H project somewhere else and asked for help. They didn't offer to purchase anything, they just asked if we could help her as she had done something wrong and needed help. At the time Pat was on the floor pricing the Blossom Bucket (which we had about 8 cartons of), and Orla and I were seating at the table pricing), so frankly it wasn't a convenient time for us. I pointed to Pat as she is the only one of us who is still knitting...so she jumped up to help, O.K., she stood up before I pointed because she knew I wasn't going to do it. (Now to be honest, later I did say to Pat when she returned and when the young girl was knitting some in the other room to make sure there were no other problems, and couldn't hear..."It aggravates me that people bring in their supplies which they purchased elsewhere and want our help without purchasing anything from us....I think it's rude.") And now I have to admit, before leaving the mother did purchase something so obviously she has been brought up correctly. I really don't mind helping when you purchased your supplies from us...it's our job to help..and while we always assist when you ask regardless of where you purchase your supplies...well perhaps I'm not quite as gracious if you don't offer to purchase something from our store (I know those who know me find this really hard to believe.) But I have one customer who constantly purchases from the discount stores and then wants us to deal with it. Anyway, Pat spent quite a bit of time with the young lady and got her straight and on her way with her project corrected. And perhaps a young convert to knitting has been created thanks to Pat. I have to say the ladies usually step up with a smile on their face and a willingness to help anyone who comes in. You might want to find out if they are here before you come in, because you sure don't want to get stuck with me. If you are planning to visit us just a heads up...we are no longer Vera Bradley dealers. If I've been asked it once this past week I've been asked 100 times. We had the entire collection on sale last year, and explained we were no longer carrying it but apparently we were talking to ourselves, as we so often are. We have no purses, totes, or etc. left. Thanks for asking. Now, weather wise...it's absolutely wonderful down here this week. The sun is out...but the temperatures hover around 80 and there's a shore breeze so it's lovely. I even shut down my air conditioning last night and while I didn't sleep like a baby it had nothing to do with the temp or the noise. It's really quiet again at night. First the town isn't packed so it's just nice, you can move around. And of course, the high school seniors are gone...the crack whore is gone...yes, things are looking better down here. And I love the kids that are working upstairs this year...yes, my world is a better place this year. Maggie is back from Poland and we have Magda who is her friend and during the day we have Orla from Ireland. Just wonderful workers. Oh, I do have to say...we have our usual slobs here at the hotel. The housekeepers most of whom are foreign workers, went into a suite where there were so many clothes on the floor, on the bed, in the bathroom, they couldn't figure out what to do so they called Vernon. He went over, stepped on the clothes to get to the bathroom, grabbed the towels, told them to put clean towels in and get the trash and do nothing else. We also have 2 apartments left each day in exactly the same condition, in the same building. The foreign students in that building can't get over the fact that people can be so messy, dirty whatever. I shutter to think that they think we all live like that. I have a hard time with it too. And I have the rule that we are not their personal housekeepers...we will not pick up their clothes and if they are all over the floor they can stay that way. If they are all over the bed...then the bed doesn't get made... So, if you go to a hotel, don't treat the housekeepers like they are there for your personal service...Clean up after yourself. They are there to make the bed, if you and your stuff aren't in it, clean the bathroom, take out trash, dust, vacuum and that's it. People are also always asking me about tipping. I have a rule of thumb which you may not agree with but for those who ask, here it is. When I stay anywhere there is housekeeping, if I am just there overnight...I leave nothing...because they didn't do anything for me personally they cleaned the room which is what they are paid for. However, if I spend 2 or more nights then when they clean the room each day they are doing it for me...and a tip is required. Then I base it on what they do...if they do a full room service, vacuum, dust, bathroom, trash, etc., I leave at least $2/person/day. If I'm there a week it goes up to at least $20, and that's only if I'm the only person. If there are more people in the room I do $2/person/night. But I travel with Sara and I get 2 rooms so honestly I haven't had anyone in my room since the jackass was with me. We have apartments for 10 at the hotel and there are those who stay a week and leave anywhere from $50-$200 tip. $50 is too low for that and I think $200 is probably a little high...but each person can decide how good their housekeeper is, but always remember them. Just like waitresses though, I do deduct for any infractions I see. But I really can't remember having a poor housekeeper in years. I'm wasting time since I don't want to try to find someplace in the storeroom for all this stuff...but I'm afraid I must go now and put stuff away. I hope your day went better than ours and that you have a great evening....Thanks for listening

July 4th nightmare continues............

First you have to know we rent to families and couples only here at the hotel. The reason, we don't want to put up with the crap drunken groups give you...noise, etc. So to have to put up with this crap out of anyone of our families or couples is not only aggravating, but criminal...of course that's just my opinion. I get to work this morning at the crack of dawn...well, it's 8:00 a.m., but to me the crack of dawn since I don't usually show up until 9-9:30 am. Anyway, as I'm coming down the alley (I walked by God, yes I did)...I noticed a car which looked like it was parked in the alley behind the hotel and I couldn't figure out what jackass would just park there and then I saw Vernon...uh, oh, not a good sign. Now Vernon is going to the MOSHA meeting in Eaton at 10:00 so I knew he'd be up early, but not hanging in the parking lot. As I got closer I see the car turns out to be a police cruiser and there are 2 officiers standing with Vernon. I just know that crack head drunken whore had to have been up to something...after all they were due to leave today. We knew she was shop lifting all over hell's green acre and had alerted all the shop owners up and down the block...actually we were hoping beyond hope that she would get arrested and we would be done with her...but nooooo, that just wouldn't happen. Anyway, Vernon informs me the police are there to escort the 2 of them off the property and he's put a restraining order on them to keep them away from the property, which wasn't hard since this asshole announced he would buy the hotel and burn it down. Meanwhile, they went out at 2:00 a.m. informing Vernon they were staying with friends. Vernon locked up as usual at 2:30 a.m. and proceeded to bed. Wasn't long before he heard something, got up and found the girl trying to get out the fire escape, yes out they had gotten back in the building by climbing on top of the soda machines, then onto the roof and then over the fire escape and onto the second floor porch. Then this crack head whore broken into the maid's closets and stuffed her shoplifting bag with toilet paper and paper towels and then tried to go down the fire escape. That's when Vernon found her, and yanked her back in and threw her out. Then he went after her crack head drunken boyfriend and threw him out, called the police and then had to put up with their crap until the police arrived. Then this crack head whore threatens to take Vernon to court because she says he threw her down a flight of stairs...which of course the police really took into consideration as they escorted them off the property and told Vernon where to go to press charges against them. Honestly, may the 4th go by next year with none of this crap going on. Each year it gets tougher...and the crowd gets rougher. I'm from the generation where you didn't get this type of person here....God, I miss those days. Now Sara and Vernon have to go plead our case in MOSHA court...honestly could the day be any worse. And I believe it looks like rain. Got to run...no more excitement but Mary and I are holding down the fort (which means Mary is and I'm getting in her way) so I'm going to try to do something useful. Keep us in your prayers...apparently we are going to need it. Have a great day yourselves and I hope the sun shines on you.

Whew...sure glad that days over!!!!

It's was the worst 4th ever for us...not business wise, but it about gave Sara a stroke, and poor Vernon...well he was up all night. Me...I went home at 11:00 p.m. and slept like a baby. I've been taking my NyQuill at night and it puts me to sleep, and...my cough is gone. Yes, I finally beat the cough. But getting back to the 4th...honestly, I wish we could go from the 3rd to the 5th with nothing in between. We all know we've got hell to pay before it's over and yesterday didn't disappoint. Sara's ignorant couple from the first thing in the morning kept it up all day. They were drunk when they arrived at 7:00 a.m., and never drew a sober breath. She gave Sara so much crap Sara about blew...and just when I thought perhaps they would sleep it off, they were back with this nasty bitch screaming at Sara, Mary, Vernon and Sara again. I finally went down and said I'd take the next round...which would be the last round because I'd throw they skanky asses out...and I mean out. Vernon went to throw them out and they said they would be no more trouble and Vernon told them to stay the hell away from Sara and if the Skank said one more word they were out. How the hell did they end up here when we don't rent to these kind of people anyway? Then at 5:00 p.m. I took up residence in the chair to watch the parking lot. Poor Sara spent the day getting a picnic ready for all the employees so between that and the "Skank" she was done for. So the alcohol started flowing for she and Vernon and she took a shower and was ready for the nights activity of monitoring the Mexican nation. It was the usual round the block riding for many and amazingly enough people were selling parking spaces for anywhere from $20-$75 for the fireworks. I cannot imagine who would be dumb enough to pay that for 20 minutes of fireworks....but then I have my space and I don't even go outside to view them. They so aren't worth it! Anyway, I'm pleased to say wherever the sign was telling them to pee on our property, it's apparently been taken down because only one person looked like they might, came and asked me where she could find a bathroom...I told her less than 100 feet away and she said she'd never make it and went on down the street (and I might added went over 100 feet in the opposite direction) so who knows where she went. We were sitting out there talking about how much we hated the 4th when the "skank" came back around and tried to approach Sara who said to her.."walk away from me, don't even try to talk to me." She then went over to the security guards (if you could call them that...frankly I've never seen them do anything but sit on the steps of the Paradise talking)...and after she left them Brian when over to see what she said to them and they were asked where she could buy some Vodka. They told they didn't know because they felt she had already had too much to drink. Yeah, that's what she needed...they were drinking beer and drunk at 7:00 a.m. and now she wanted to add Vodka to the mix. She did go to the 9th street market and pick up a 4 pack of Red Bull. And the greatest sin...she was wearing a Skanky bikini after 6:00 p.m. Speaking of Red Bull though...Sara told me that after I left to take over the store for Connie so she could get ahead of the going home traffic at 9:00...the Red Bull van pulled up 8th street, blocked traffic and handed out free samples of Red Bull. So Sara went over to them and told them they would have to move the friggin van since they had traffic all tied up. So after arguing with those idiots for 15 minutes (I hear it got ugly)..they ended up pulling the pallets of Red Bull out of the van, dumped it into the street and left so it was a Red Bull free for all. They gave 2 cases to Brian and asked him to intervene with Sara so she wouldn't call the police. I'm telling you by 11:00 p.m. Sara was a raging maniac. I truthfully was afraid she was going to have a stroke...and since our Skank was still out oh, yeah, I forgot this part, she and her boyfriend were in a room with one double bed and she called friends from the front desk and told them she had a room with 2 beds (obviously hallucinating) and they should come on down to join her. So this meant that we had to stand vigil to make sure her friends did not go up to join her. But we never saw her again and at 11:00 p.m. Sara was insisting I go home. The lines of cars trying to get out of 8th, 9th, and 10th street did not lessen until around midnight. The fireworks were over at 9:50. It was nuts here. And now we are set for another week. Today the weekend people have gone home and we are left with another set of visitors...I can only hope they have more sense the the 4th of July people...I have my doubts. And tomorrow, God help us, Sara and Vernon go to Easton to fight over our fine with MOSHA. They are so exhausted but we have the elevator people and the safety expert also going so I have hope. In the meantime, I'm in Salty Yarns where some asshole is screaming at his wife because he's been sitting outside waiting for an hour. Now she's telling me what an asshole he is...at least we agree on that. Once she's gone and he's gone, it will be quiet in here once again...my Paradise...and I have my stitching...oh, and racks I can go through to load up my new tote from Shiela and Trudy...oh, I have to go now...talk later. Have a great day.

Happy 4th of July

While you are busy preparing for the big family barbeque in the back yard...setting off a few fireworks and enjoying just a day from work...we are preparing outselves for our battle with the foreigners who use our property as their personal toilet. We have Brian on duty from 8a.m.-10 p.m. keeping an eagle eye on the parking lots which are also targets for parking and peeing...it's a two for. Sara and I will man our posts as it's closer to firecracker time...but during the day I'm here at the computer ready to do battle with anyone who e-mails me. Yes, I'm ready for the fight. Sara wasn't quite ready when she awoke this morning to find a check in from last night standing outside waiting to get in. (we're old fashioned and rent to families and couples only so we lock all entrances at 2:30 a.m. It keeps the drunks out). Anyway, they came in pissed off as they had arrived after 3:00 a.m. to find the doors locked...which everyone is aware of as we tell them over the phone at the time of the reservation and also it's in the confirmation that apparently no one ever reads...and they become ignorant as to what they were told over the phone. So the girl who didn't make the reservation argued with Sara while the boyfriend who did make the reservation (and had stayed here previously) just remained mum. Sara was less than awake and certainly not entertained...so she kept explaining why they found the doors locked (we actually state that no one can check in after midnight...but again, apparently these two were too ignorant to read). So this battle went on for apparently some time with Sara telling them they were welcome to go elsewhere and get a room...which they didn't want to do (damn it)...so after absolutely aggravating Sara to stroke level, they went up to their room cursing and aggravating her even further. Yes, we're having a great start to our 4th of July. I can only hope it gets better...my mother always said, "a bad beginning is a good ending). Let's hope mother knew what she was talking about. I on the other hand have had a good week. First with Debbie and Dina here...it's been fun..and then Janet S., Evelyn and Edna came in and we had fun catching up, etc. They were afraid to speak for fear they'd end up in the newsletter (blog) so I have to say they were a treat. And to top it off...they brought me chocolate covered pretzels...whoppee!!!!! and since they didn't know if I liked dark chocolate or milk, they brought me a bag of each..double whoppee!!!! Thanks ladies...I've enjoyed them and I actually shared them (not my usual thing..I usually hide them...I think I'm becoming a better person..probably not since I left them there at the end of my shift and before I remembered where I put them Connie had already taken a couple...but that means I did share right?). Candi W. and Linda W., came in on Friday and we sat and stitched in the lobby since I was not working in the shop, and then they bought me lunch...another whoppee! I like the way this work week went...food and stitchers...there's nothing better. But the fun is over for today...today we do battle with everyone apparently. I'd better go suit up and get ready...where the hell is the taser...I'm taking no prisoners this year...you start to pee here and you will be electrocuted. Pass the word

I'm getting into the swing of things again

My daughters talked me into going back to afternoon naps before work, due to what they refer to as my "bitchiness" and it has done wonders in my attitude adjustment. It was never more evident than last night when a woman rushed into the shop wearing sunglasses at 9:30 p.m. and asked, "do you sell sodas?" I frankly felt that her sunglasses were part of the problem, however it could be drugs, alcohol, or just plain stupidity. I started to direct her to the soda machines right outside or down to Thrashers at the end of the building...I mean this idiot actually had to go out of her way to come into the shop..we're not just sitting right on the boardwalk..we're part of the hotel. But this is so typical of what crap I have to endure during my daily shop sitting. Idiots, I'm telling you...my world is filled with this type of idiot. But, with the nap I'm becoming better at handling it. Instead of saying, "Look you stupid bitch, take off your frigging sunglasses and look around..so I look like I'd sell soda?"...no I simply said a polite, "No." I decided that directing her to the soda machines or to Thrashers just required more energy than I cared to exert. My final customer (and I'm using that term here loosely) stepped into my oasis and said, "Oh, I should never have walked in here...they will never get me out." I knew then that there was no need to exert any energy with this one either because I've never had one person make that statement that ever purchased anything. They love to talk about it, love to ask 50 million (and I do mean million) questions, but at the end it's always, "Well thanks so much I just love your shop." So I just looked at Sara and we kept on talking. In the end, she did what Sara refers to as the "Victory Lap" which mean they walk around the shop and then out the door without stopping to purchase one thing. She did manage to ask 3 questions which I couldn't of cared less about regarding the use of fibers for necklaces....really not my area of expertise and I won't bullshit if I'm not certain of the answer...so she left with no fanfare at all. That really ended my evening and I closed. Since Monday was my deadline for the "cough be gone" I went back on my NyQuil regimen on Saturday. I did get a good night's sleep (as good as I ever get) and for longer than normal and I don't think I coughed as much so I'm staying on this regimen...even if I become addicted (I don't take the liquid only the capulets) because at my age, who really gives a crap! And today I don't think I've coughed at all...whoppee...no doctor for me! I wasn't going to admit something that I'd done, but what the hell...I have no shame! Let me first say, I don't do Ebay normally because I waste too much time on it. But periodically I go on just to see if anyone has put a kits by designers I love on it...for instand Merry Cox. In fact, it was Merry Cox that got me in so much trouble. I went on before Lauren Sauer's class and typed in Merry Cox and pushed enter and low and behond 2 of her class kits came up. I was so excited, and while I knew I wouldn't be able to get them, I bid on them anyway, just to be part of the process. Actually what I was on ebay for was the oil can that goes with one of the pieces I was stitching. I had bid on the oil can previously and lost it, so I was back on to bid on another. While I was there, I thought I'd look to see about Merry Cox pieces. Anyway, I won the oil and when I went into my account it said I won 3 pieces. I thought, Uh, Oh, what the hell have I done. I recognized the oil can, but the other was from a "mountainbeads" or something like that and I thought, "Good, God, they will have to take my computer away from me since I'm now buying beads worth over $200." So I took a look at the bead company and it turned out to be the 2 Merry Cox pieces. While I was excited, I had only bid on them thinking someone would outbid me so I hadn't really even looked at which kits they were...but anyway, I got them and now they are added to my stash. So I went on a couple of weeks later since I was temporarily bored and for some reason typed in Just Nan. Now I had looked for over 3 years for Queen of the Needle needlecase and smalls but that was it from her and my dear friends Debbie L, and Phyllis Y., were able to locate the chart from the kit and gave it to me as a gift. So I didn't need the kit anymore, but low and behold, there it was. The bid was at $51.00 so I put in $75 and went on about my business. The next day when I went to do mail, I saw that I lost the bid...which didn't surprise me, but for some reason I was compelled to bit higher, so I put in $125, which was automatically rejected since someone else had bid higher than that. Now I was getting pissed off...after all, at least give me a couple of hours before rejecting me...so I put in $175.oo thinking no one would bid any higher, after all it's just a kit. Well, when the bidding hit $250, Sara came to me and said, "Mom remember the Queen of the needle kit you wanted so much and Debbie and Phyllis gave you the chart?" I said, "Yes," and then she says, "You are never going to believe this but someone has bid $250 on that kit on Ebay." I just looked at her with shame in my eyes and said, "I knew it was I." She just looked horrified and said, "Mom you already have the chart, what the hell are you doing." I then said, "I don't know...it's become some sort of one up man's ship, I can't believe someone keeps raising the bids and now it's become a case of I'm going to get this no matter what." Sara then tried to remind me of all the money we are spending because of the elevator incident...$40,000 for new freight lift...fines, fines from OSHA over $10,000...but this had become bigger than that. Someone was going against me and I couldn't stand it. So I now had to have this kit. On the last day I still had the highest bid of $300 (yes, I said, $300)...but I still wasn't confident. We all knew that at 4:15 when this auction ended every computer would be turned to Ebay to see the results...but I had to go to Walmart around 2:30 and worried that at the last seconds I would lose the bid. So Vernon said, "You have to figure out how much this is worth to you...how much are you willing to spend and then put that figure in." As I told him I didn't want to bid $300, but I just knew in the last seconds they were going to try to grab it. So...and I'm embarrassed to say it, but I put $500 in the bid and went to Walmart. When I got back I was in time to watch what happened....at 12 seconds before the auction ended the person bidding against me put in $415.00 so I was smiling and shouting, "I knew they'd try that, but why would they go from $300 to $415 in one movement?" And then they tried $425.00 but ran out of time. So whoppee...I claimed it for $427.00. And they shipped it for free (glad I got a little extra with this one). Anyway, I was thrilled as Sara kept saying, "But Mom, you already had the chart and you spent $427.00. What the hell were you thinking." Let me just say, I was drunk with Ebay. I kid Vernon all the time because he orders from here continually. I will now try to stay away from it because like my $272 lobster, I am now saying, "O.K. I'm not going to order that which I normally would order, and that brings the cost of the Just Nan piece to..." Sara says I can't rationalize like that, but I'm going to until this makes sense to me. I can't stand losing and can't afford to win. But I will cherish this piece whether I stitch it or not...simply because I paid so much more for it. Now I wasn't going back on Ebay, but Sara did the next week and there was another Queen of the Needle kit. People, please stop putting these things up. I started bidding on that one as well, but for an entire different reason. I bid up to $300 just to raise the bid...after all, why should I pay $427 and the next person gets it for $100. Sara kept saying, but Mom, what if you win...you will have spent $300 more dollars. You know you just can't be rational in the heat of battle. But I did say, "Don't worry, the person that kept upping the bid on me will be bidding up to $425 like they did last time. I won't go higher than $300." Truth be told, they didn't have to go higher because they outbid me at $300 and I didn't look back. I didn't want to spend another $300 so I ended it. I'm not expelled from Ebay...or at least until I can rationalize that I got a deal. So far I haven't paid for 2 kits which I would have purchased normally so in my mind the $427 is now down to $282. Before I get done rationalizing, I'll have the cost down to $50 and then I can go back on ebay to see what's new. Stitching is my drug of choice....and I can't stop myself. Well, I've got to get back to Jamboree brochures, which are going out today.

Talk to you later.

Just Shoot Me already!

I'm telling you, my frustration with people is getting into overload territory. First, of all...if you haven't stayed with us for upteen years nor do you shop in the shops, then I beg you don't come by to say hello while I'm working. It's happened for the past 2 nights. For some reason these women are not happy unless they have come into the shop to tell me hi, how long it's been since they last stayed at the hotel...probably 20 years, drag out their pictures of their grandchildren and then tell what has happened in their lives for the last 20 years. I DON"T GIVE A DAMN...and then to add insult to injury they get in the way of the stitchers trying to get their supplies. Honestly, if I have to speak to one more person who doesn't stitch I swear I'm going to hit them...sock them...oh, hell I'm carrying the taser and doing what anyone else would do....I'm putting them down! I think perhaps I'm becoming unbalanced...due to age perhaps, or perhaps lack of sleep...hell I can't even blame the high school seniors this week.. crap and I love to blame them for everything. O.K., my day has gotten increasingly better. The girls are insisting that I start taking naps again for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Apparently they feel that lack of sleep is making me cranky. So today, I went into one of the apartments, in which Sara had already turned on the a/c in anticipation of my arrival, and took the prerequisite nap. I did feel better when I emerged to work the shop. I felt refreshed and ready to take on any asshole who might find the shop. Sara served my favorite summer dinner...corn on the cob and tomatoes (at least that's all I eat), and I was in hog heaven. At least I was until the corn and tomatoes collided in my stomach and the run to the bathroom began, but even that didn't get me down. I've come to expect that marathon. So I'm sitting here thinking that I might just get through the evening with a smile on my face when she walked in, looked around and said, "Do you sell curtains?" People...I'm a needlework store...do you see a curtain? Do you see fabric? What the hell is wrong with you? While I find her and the jackass FedEx delivery person hard to take, I've still got a smile on my face and I'm still pleasant..well as pleasant as I ever get. Now about the Fedex jackass. First he never come in that he hasn't knocked over something...the last time he broken a display and he always just looks at us and says, "sorry" like my children use to when they so weren't sorry. But today he comes in and the foreign student comes to me and says, "There is someone with boxes to deliver" so I look behind her and there is the jackass. I give him my "you asshole" look and he says, "I just wanted to see if you were open." It's summer asshole...take a guess! It wasn't raining, it was sunny and bright...if we're not open now when are we going to be open. So I said, "Obviously we are open." Then he loads up his hand truck and tries once more to break a display however, I've got his number and I stand in front of the display so he can't. But somehow he managed to knock stuff over and break one of the pegs off a thread rack...no big deal there, but it's like he has no personal responsibility. Jackass...How the hell did this guy get a job delivering anything. When he realized he wasn't going to get the handtruck around the display he just dropped it...and then asked "did anything break"...who knows what broke in the 5 cartons that had "Fragile" written on each one. Honestly...it's beyond me. I haven't had my nap today since IRS and Md. State Comptrollers office was playing ping pong with me..literally for at least 4 hours. IRS and I have been fighting over the same issue since April 2008. I've been in contact with the State Comprollers office who says IRS doesn't know what they're talking about and the State was not going to entertain their request. Finally IRS put a lien on my Bank account (oh, my God!!!!) so of course now I'm fighting mad. I got a supervisor today with the state and told her I was caught inbetween a "pissing" contest and I was getting burned and someone needed to stop and consider me. She found 6 different numbers which I was suppose to call to try to resolve this issue since she also said IRS has nothing to do with State (I willing to agree now someone call IRS and tell them! I finally called Donald, who of course was out of his office but I left word with him knowing I'd never hear from him...and imagine my surprise when 15 minutes he called back, said he understood what I was asking for and would see that I got it in the next couple of days. O.K. it took 4 hours but I might be progressing after 15 months of correspondence and phone calls. I'll let you know...meanwhile I've got a $9000 lien again my bank account. Yeah, I'm just having the best week ever. I did take my pictures over to the framers today and I was exceptionally pleased with that trip. Can't wait to get them back and show you. I finished my time on Candi's piece and have gone back to stitching on mine. I'm almost done with the Rose Sampler pouch and will then go back to my beloved stockings. I've got one more of the April stockings and then will begin on May's. I still love them, I just got a bit behind. As more charts are coming in, I'm losing focus...they are like shiny objects beckoning to me and I am having a really hard time resisting the new stuff. Thankfully Shiela F. and Trudy E. sent me the cutest tote so I've got a new tote to load up....that should take me about 15 minutes. Thanks Girls...Love it! Debbie B. and Dina have been in every night since they arrived on Saturday...searching and searching for that special something. They are purchasing one thing every day instead of starting a bag and paying at the end. It makes it seem like they are spending less (anything we can do to fool ourselves and our husbands is O.K.). It's so good to see true stitchers...Thank you God...