Mellissa's Madness

The Day Spa that I work for has been really slow, with a lot of people going on vacations, putting their children in summer programs and just having to deal with the increase of gas & food prices, the spa has been getting a lot of cancellations and having a hard time getting people on the schedule. Several people at work were given less hours, so drastically that they had to choose to find employment elsewhere or come in only twice a month, that happened before I left for vacation and at that point I was aware I would be next if it didn't pick up. And yes, after returning from our vacation, I was told that I would be on an on call basis, depending on how booked the day was. Then, I was told my hours were being cut, to once a month. Just enough so that I was still employed, yet I couldn't collect unemployment. To top it off I did not receive my vacation pay. I was just out of luck. No business, no vacation pay. (Never mind I worked my "you know what" off all year to earn it!)

On top of that, our owner was not "business minded" and the finances were not handled correctly, so needless to say, the Spa is in serious trouble if he cannot get a LARGE loan to get it back on top. So.....he is cutting hours back on LOYAL employees and bringing his family in to work under the table so that he does not have to pay workers comp and all the other payroll taxes that go along with it, etc.

Anyhow after several weeks of filling out applications and not even getting a single call for an interview, I finally emailed my supervisor and begged her to please "lay me off" officially so that I may at least collect unemployment since it was obviously going to take me awhile to get another job, with all the competition out there. I explained to her that the Spa already pays for the unemployment on a monthly basis and that it would not cost them any extra really, and that it was only fair, I suggested she talk to the account and please consider it. I told her I was desperate and that my husband alone could not handle all our bills. My income specifically paid for my car payments (which are every 2 WEEKS due to my credit)  insurance and groceries.

Finally I got an email that said after much consideration they had agreed to let me go "due to lack of work". Finally! I was happy, but at the same time, my emotions suddenly kicked in and I felt a loss. I knew that they didn't want to let me go so that I would just come back when/if things got better, but I just couldn't survive that way. So, I told myself to hold my head up high and went online and filed for unemployment.

I am hoping all goes well, I am so desperate. And to top it off, my brother, his girlfriend, their daughter and infant son also are struggling and were evicted, so guess where they are staying until they can get on their feet? Yep, in our extra bedroom (the playroom). So, there is myself, my husband, my husbands 18 yr old son, my brother and his family. I have a house full. Whew! AND, it is also my week to get the grandkids for the summer (Thank God, Rhiane brought some groceries over when she dropped the kids off). I have resorted to using lots of pasta for meals and let me tell you, I am putting on some pounds! LOL So, needless to say, there are a lot of hungry mouths to feed and the shelves stay bare! 

I am petrified to see next months electric bill, with the washing machine going non stop and the dishwasher running 3 or more loads a day. We shall see! But I will deal with it when the time comes. That's how I am looking at it. Surprisingly I am not in a depressed mood or feeling like we cant do it. I think because everyone is counting on me I have to stay positive and just busy myself with constant house cleaning and cooking for them. Honestly, I don't know how I would be able to do it, if I WAS working! And I know things happen for a reason, so I am just taking it one day at a time and enjoying the time I have spending with my family, all the while praying the unemployment comes through. I go online each morning searching for new job listings, apply online and drop off the ones that need delivering, then start my busy day of taking care of everyone.

I hope this doesn't sound like a whining, complaining blog, I am just putting it out there. This is what I am dealing with at this point in my life and really feel like things always happen for a reason, so....I am keeping a positive attitude and staying very busy in the meantime.

Yawn.....Stretch.....Scratch.....What day is this? LOL

I decided that I should get back into the swing of things and do a little blogging. But, I feel a little squeaky around the edges....so I just made some changes of the look and uploaded some pics of our recent trip to the Smokey Mountains.

The trip was awesome. We absolutely loved it. Best vacation I've ever had! We rented a cabin with some friends in Severville, just outside of Gatlinburg TN. The cabin was located on a mountain with the most beautiful mountain view. We spent every opportunity while there, sitting out on the deck. Our morning coffee time was extended into overtime, and our evenings were spent listening to the most amazing nighttime sounds. (I recorded it, just so I wouldn't forget the sound).

We went to the Caverns, we hiked a mountain with a waterfall at the end of the trail, went river rafting, fishing, golfing, shopping and so much more. Lets just say, "we did it all"! As much as we could afford, anyway! While on the trip we came across a black bear on our hike, but of course by the time I got my camera turned on and focused, he took one look back at us and scampered up the mountain out of site. We also saw wild turkeys, raccoons, a hummingbird, a beaver, water snakes, a chipmunk, and an elk feeding in a field. I think the bear was the most awesome experience for me and of course the only one I did not get a photo of.

We had a great trip, in a great cabin with great friends and just a GREAT time!

On our way back to Florida, we stopped for a couple days in Savannah, GA and met up with some more friends and celebrated the 4th of July there. What a beautiful place. We took the trolley tour and there is so much history there, it is amazing. On the way back to Florida I read the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil" and wished I had read it prior to visiting because the places we visited would have meant so much more to me. Especially the Cemetery and some of the famous sites, I really could have appreciated it more and I would have had a better understanding about the things my friends "had to see" while we were there. It was a completely different experience than the mountains, but a good one just the same.

When we returned home, it was so great to be back in our own beds! Kiwi, our little Chihuahuas was so happy to see his mommy & daddy! I thought he would never calm down and stop licking me!

Ah-hem, lets see...yes, well... it has been so long since I last posted, there is absolutely no way to try and play catch up, so I will just pick up as if I never left! (How's that for not even trying to explain myself!) What did you just say about me? LOL

I didn't think Sunday would ever come fast enough! I am completely exhausted! This last week at work was CRAZY! We had a special workshop where I worked a 12-hour shift on Wednesday, then I went straight into setting up for the Bridal Spa Party that I was in charge of planning and organizing on Friday for a party of 12, including Spa Services of Facials, Body Treatments, Manicures, Pedicures, Catered Lunches, Appetizers and Alcoholic Beverages, not to mention being the caterer, hostess, waitress, bartender, photographer, and clean up crew, etc, etc. Then on Saturday, the Bride and two Brides Maid's were scheduled for their Make-up to be Professionally done by us and so I catered to them all over again, only it was for just the three of them and their hairdresser. Although exhausting, it was a lot of fun, helping with all the little details, helping the ladies get into their dresses, taking the pictures that will be their keepsakes for such a special day, escorting them to the limousine parked out front, all the while snapping shots along the way. I even climbed in after them and took a picture of them inside the limo (really I just wanted to get to go inside, because never in my entire life had I ever been in a limo before!), by the time they pulled out we were waving and blowing kisses to them as if they were family! What an awesome experience and to be able to give someone on such an important day of their lives! It made me feel so good to know we made their day extra special. It was my first time ever doing a Bridal Party at the Spa and I wanted it to be perfect, I hope it was for them.

So, to treat myself for a job well done, I decided I needed to take myself shopping this morning. I thought to myself, "Self, you deserve a new outfit"! And hey! Have you seen those shoe sale commercials all over the T.V. lately? "You deserve new shoes too"! Yep, I agreed with myself, and away we went! I came back with some pretty snazzy stuff too, if I do say so myself!

Now, to get dinner started, then I'm gonna go outside with a book that I started back a Christmas time and RELAX! These are the little steps I'm gonna take to get my life back on track.......

For the last month or so I have been online researching the different dealerships that hav e the Hyundai Santa Fe that I have had my eye on for awhile. Just checking out pricing, colors, features, etc. Not really planning on a purchase soon, but just getting myself ready for when I do because my car is starting to nickel and dime me to death.

But, sooner came sooner than we had anticipated. My car was running really bad. It felt like the transmission was starting to go, not to mention the sputter...sputter....sput...sputter...sput, it already did that I have invested $500.00 in and it still does this at 55 miles an hr. And I am pretty sure the alternator was going to join in with the rest of it and my right tire wobbled every time I turned a slight right (although the guys at Tire Kingdom said nothing was wrong with it) And to top it off the water light and the oil light would come on and off whenever they felt like it and lets just say....I was never sure if I was going to get to my destination! And being that this is our only means of transportation for my husband and myself (motorcycle and truck still not running) it was getting a little scary.

So after realizing that we would have to start thinking about paying another car payment again, we began more detailed research, homed in on the one I wanted and went for it. Now, this all sounds like it was simple and carefree. But let me just explain how stressed and sick to my stomach I was, I LOVED my little Pontiac Sunfire and wanted to drive it till it died (and almost did), but not only that, we live paycheck to paycheck and don't have a penny in savings. Such is life. So, for us this is going to add a HUGE strain on our budget (what budget?) and will have to shift the way we live drastically to make this happen and we already live sparingly as it is. So, the last week or so have been really hard for us, because the car was going downhill fast, I was not sleeping at night, I could not concentrate at work, I was a wreck....literally, because I know this is going to hurt us.

But, after much dilemma with coming up with a down payment, we finally made it happen. How, you might wonder (or not)? We counted and rolled our quarters from the "Vacation Jar"(I told you we live paycheck to paycheck!), so that and traded in the old "fire" since her light was out. And we have a rule to never "go" into the vacation jars...EVER! NO MATTER WHAT! (Although someone did recently and stole about $200.00 worth, by the amount missing out of the jar.) But, we realized we had to do it and that hurt, because we have been planning to go to the Tennessee Mountains to a Cabin in May for our Anniversary and have invited our close friends to go with us. But, hopefully by May we can build back up enough so that we don't have to cancel the trip. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do....that's how we dignified it and broke our own rule. A vehicle took priority.

So Saturday we went down and picked up my online purchase! We had it transferred from Orlando and let me tell you it is so SWEET! It is used, a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, Black with Gray Interior, Sunroof, Luggage Racks, Cruise Control, Fully Loaded! I am still trying to figure out the buttons on the doors, because I have never had power-ANYTHING! My windows on the Sunfire were manual cranks! And I have my very own CD player (now I can take it off my Christmas List)! And leather seats that can be heated! Now, I too, can bleep-bleep my vehicle locked with a keyless entry!

We love it and I cannot believe that I have the very vehicle that I have wanted for sooooo....long. And with all the bells and whistles! I told the salesman that I didn't really care about the bells and whistles, but he told me I'd get them anyway with the year of that vehicle and let me tell you, now that I have them, THEY are SWEEET! And the feeling of stress and sickness to my stomach has completely disappeared. It feels right. Now we don't have to worry about if the car breaks down, how will we get to our jobs and we might have car payments again, but at least now we have a feeling of security.

Every time I look at it, I cant believe it's MINE!

Looks like it is gonna get busy for us the next few weeks. Friday night my husband and I volunteered for an event a Center for the Arts function. And it wouldn't have been so bad except that I only got 2-1/2 hrs sleep the night before! But amazingly it wasn't that bad, I actually didn't start yawning until we were outside ready to leave!

Then yesterday started the first day of our three day practice for our dance routine for Mardi Gras. It went really well and there are only a few areas where I need to really focus on, but I am hoping today that they are scratched and a new step is incorporated instead! Yeah Right! But, practice makes perfect, so I hope I can get it! Hubby said we looked really good and that he thought we were gonna knock their socks off.

We practiced for 4 hours yesterday and when I got home I was limping. But, not from the dancing! Yesterday before practice I pulled my hamstring on my left leg while hauling a huge cart with cases of bottled waters. Oh the pain! And I got through the practice alright, but once home and relaxing, it really stiffened up and was killing me. So, I took a nice long hot bath, read my newly arrived Cottage Living and just soaked away the pain. For about 30 minutes. Then the "Charlie horse" feeling started in again and I had to beg my hubby to apply a muscle relaxing ointment to help me.

This morning it feels better, but I still still feel it in the distance, lurking, waiting for that one wrong move......and BAM! And I am slightly sore all over, but its the kind of feel good sore, where you feel like you did something good for you, kinda sore.

Whew- Whoooo! Hubby is up and I hear him stirring our coffees! Guess that means it's time for a coffee break! .........O.K.I'm back! Much better now! We went outside to drink them and it is just gorgeous out. It always amazes me how our weather will bounce back and forth, almost with a  snap of a finger. Tonight a cold front is coming and it is supposed to be the 60's tomorrow(I know that this is a heat wave for some of you!). It's supposed to hit 75 today, and we'll have some afternoon showers, then 60's for a few days, but still. By next week we'll probably be in the 80's again....its this kind of weather, that keeps everyone sick! I just wish it would stay just like today forever!

Well, I better get some chores done, lay out some dinner, and get ready for dance. Today we have to practice in our costumes, so I better go do some crunches to try to tighten up and suck in my stomach!

It's that time of year again! Our town is in full Mardi Gras mode! My favorite event!  And one of our friends is running this year, actually three people we know are running, which caused us to have to choose sides! But, the fundraising all goes to one place, so it is all in good fun! Last year our crew's candidate won Queen Divine and it was awesome! We kicked butt and deserved it!  And our crew hopes we can do it again this year for King Rex! We had our first Hob Nob - Kick Off Party last Tuesday where the Candidates give speeches and the $250.00 is awarded by peoples choice and guess who has started out in the lead? Yep, we WON! Our theme is "Over the Border" and we dressed up in bright t-shirts, boots & sombrero hats. After our speech we announced free shots of Tequila Shooters to anyone who gave us their voting chips! What a success that was! I was even coaxed into getting up onto the bar stool leaning back and getting a mouth full! It was really good! It was a lot of fun! We were interviewed for a TV slot and the next day, everyone told me I had my picture in the newspaper doing the line dance! Sure enough! There I was, in the background (just the way I like it)! But, it was clearly me & my sombrero! Too Funny!

So, this Saturday we will be getting together to learn the choreography to our dance "Livin La Vida Loca" and the way I see it, we will be shaking our ba-tooties off! We just got our costume's over-nighted and let me just say they are "HOT"! I am not sure if this grandma will be able to pull it off, but I will have fun trying!

Here is a picture of our costume ....

Yikes! I feel a draft!

After having a whole week off, then working three days and now off for the weekend, I am probably the only weirdo who would rather be working right now! My week off was w/o pay, and Christmas just passed, so I am broker than broke and bored to death on top of that! So, here I sit, on a Saturday wondering what to do with my self. Cleaning-Done, Laundry-Done, Yard Work-Obsolete and I am not a TV person normally (cant sit still long enough to watch anything) and I am caught up with my taped General Hospital episodes. I have watched all the past to present episodes of Desperate Housewives and Survivor online, so were do I go from here? My co-workers all say I should watch Gray's Anatomy, maybe I'll try to do a marathon on that online just for something to do. I do have a new DEAN KOONTZ book that my daughter Leilyn got me for Christmas, that I plan to read, but until I get in the mood the curl up and relax.....whatever am I to do???????

What a really nice Christmas and New Years we have had. I really think it is most enjoyable when you just keep it simple and spend it with family. I usually want to do everything big, but as I get older & wiser, I am beginning to realize that having your family close and spending good quality time together is the BEST! I really love the fact that my girls are growing into wonderful mothers and to have the house filled with little ones everywhere makes me realize even more how awesome grandchildren are. I just love those babies! I remember just sitting on the couch watching them enjoy their toys and thinking, "this is what it's all about".

I was off for the week between Christmas and New Years and I bet you are wondering....well, why wasn't she updating and visiting?!!!! Well, to tell the truth, I did not have the time or energy! I was very busy being a granny nanny! LOL I watched my two youngest grand babies since I had the week off. It worked out very well, it saved Leilyn some daycare money and it gave me precious time with my little darlings. And they kept me busy alright! During nap time I snuck in cleaning and filing and got a lot of things done around the house. I really enjoyed getting to spend time with them and they were such little cutie pies the entire time. But, I tell you, I was glad they went home every night! LOL I would fall into bed exhausted! Then up early to take my husband to work, then home again to shower and prepare for them each day was almost more work than WORK! Yep, I feel my age a lot lately. But I'll have you know I can still kick it on the playground at the park! HA! I can still outrun a 2 year old! Not bad for a granny nanny!

New Years was just as fun! We had a small party with friends and family over and played board games till we laughed so hard we had to stop! We ate, drank, and blared the music as loud as we could stand it. My husband is the best bartender ever and he took good care of us. We drank champagne at midnight while watching the ball drop on TV, did lots of cheers and I got a really good smooch from the hubby. Afterwards, we set off some fireworks in the driveway and oohed and awed, then boo' d and pouted when we were out. Our bartender continued to keep us happy and we had a really great night. It was very fun and did I say we had a really great bartender? Yep, he is definitely invited back for the next party!

Here are a couple of pictures of us at my parents house on Christmas Eve......