Well, the interview yesterday went well.  I left with the feeling that they would make an offer, so when they called last night at 6:30 it wasn't a huge surprise.  It seems to be a good company ... family owned, mid-size as far as number of employees and average contract amount, medical benefits (no 401K or retirement plans), decent salary for the area ... commute sucks (figure at least an hour each way with traffic) and they want me to start now. Today. Yesterday if possible.

Several years ago ... let's say about four years because that's what it was ... after I left the restaurant business and before I moved to Maine, I interviewed with a small contractor in Fresno.  It was a family owned business, decent salary, etc., etc., and after much deliberation, weighing the pros and cons, convincing myself if was the right thing to do in spite of serious reservations, I took the job.

It was the worst employment decision I've ever made.  I stayed there a year.  It was one of the most miserable years I can remember. When it was over, I promised myself I would never again dismiss my initial feelings and when my intuition knocked me upside the head with a resounding "RUN the other way ... NOW!", I would pay attention.

Luckily I'm not in the same position I was when I took the job in Fresno.  At that time, I needed a job and there were no options.

Last night after a lengthy discussion with Tom (and finally hearing some of the answers I've needed to hear), weighing all of the options, and realizing that if I was feeling so hesitant there must be a reason, I called them back and turned down the offer.

In my old age, I've realized that it's not only when opportunity knocks that you need to pay attention.  It's also when intuition slaps you that you need to look both ways before crossing that street because the dog coming down the street just may be a Greyhound ...

BUS.

Yeah, yeah, yeah ... I'm still here.

Kids are gone ... they were actually only in the area for three days (long drive for such a short stay, in my opinion ... but then that's exactly what that is. My opinion). At least I got to spend one whole day with Michelle, The Monkey and The Bean.  They went to the zoo on Friday, we all met for dinner Friday night, and they took off Saturday morning.

Short and sweet.  And I miss them already.  Someday, maybe, either we'll live closer or my son-in-law will agree to take a handful of sedatives so we can get him on a plane. Yeah. Right.

Anyway, they are back home and things are back to normal around here. 

I finally reactivated my resume on Monster and have received a few phone calls.  Unfortunately, most of them are looking for Controller positions, which I never want to do again ... one of those "been-there-done-that-thanks-but-no-thanks-I'll-pass-thank-you-very-much" type jobs.  At this point in life, I just don't want the headaches and sleepless nights that go along with a top management position.  One person full of stress in the house is quite enough.

Worker-bee is just fine with me.  And I have an interview today for just such a position.  They actually called me to interview for Controller and when I told them that I, truthfully, had no desire to do that again, they said they had just fired the AP person that morning ... would I be interested in that?  Wull, sho-ore! Maybe.

Of course my main concern is benefits.  Salary isn't too much of an issue but if they don't offer any benefits, it doesn't matter how much they want to pay.  And then there's the commute, since I really have no idea where I'm going yet!  I suppose I should look at Mapquest or Google ... The drive alone may determine the outcome.

I'll leave a trail of breadcrumbs and if you don't hear from me soon, someone please come find me!

"Wow!  Monkey, look at that!"

The Monkey ran out, eyes wide, arms flung up wards, a smile that went forever.  She ran in circles, she lay down and rolled over and over, she picked up handfuls and with a shout of glee, threw them into the wind.  She chased Angel, kicking these new featherweight, colorful toys into the air as she ran. Angel chased her and she rolled on the ground in a burst of giggles.

The Bean followed at a distance, at first reluctant to venture beyond the safety of the solid concrete beneath her feet.  Once she realized that this new texture was softer and the crunching and crinkling sound did not hurt, she too was unstoppable.

When the wind blew stronger, they both stood with their arms spread, gazing in wonder as they were showered in the falling debris of ...

Leaves.

Those kids have got to get out of Vegas!

"Leaving Saturday. Driving. Be there Tuesday."
"Changed to Thursday. Looking into taking the train. Looks like Saturday."
"Maybe Friday. Thinking of renting an RV. Puts us there probably Monday."
"Probably Saturday. Now we're driving. Three days ... see you Tuesday."
"Might not be until Sunday. Back to the RV idea."
"Yep, renting an RV. We have a trucker-friend coming with us. He's driving ... straight through. Leaving Sunday morning so we'll see you Monday or Tuesday."

  When I didn't hear anything Sunday, I called her on Monday morning.

"Where are you?"
"Uh, in our driveway. We're leaving right now!"

  When Tom asked me when the kids would be here, my answer was "Don't have a clue.  I'll know when they pull up in front of the house.  I'm not holding my breath until then."

  They were in New Mexico last night when Michelle called around 9:00, and she said they planned to keep driving until around midnight.  If that happened, they should be somewhere close to Texas this morning and should be here sometime tonight.

  Of course, IF my son-in-law would get on an airplane, they would have been here already;
  IF he would get on a plane, they wouldn't have to drive for two or three days;
  IF he would get on a plane, that insane series of confusing decisions wouldn't have been such an insane series of confusing decisions;

  and IF he would get on a plane, there wouldn't be the problem of where in hell are they going to park a 40-foot RV??

I had something all ready to post and then I visited the Featured Subscriber Blog for today ...  "Machines and Me" ... and found this much more humorous:

I know there are a lot of people out there who appreciate modern art.  I appreciate modern art ... if I know what I'm looking at.  It's the stuff that makes absolutely no sense to me that I find difficult to appreciate.

Like an unfinished wooden chair.  Nothing else. Just the chair. Roped off, just like the other pieces of art.  Or a wooden box, painted green, sitting in the middle of the floor.  Different artists. Both titled "Untitled".

So. What am I missing?  And how do these artists manage to get their pieces of "art" into a show at the Museum of Modern Art? 

Granted, there were a couple of interesting, intriguing pieces ... the ladder that seemed to wind it's way to the stars, the huge canvas with the jar of olives splattered in one corner ... but for the most part, I saw nothing that I would make space for in my house.

The trip did however, manage to ignite my creative side and it may even spark a renewed interest in picking up the old paint brushes since I have several unfinished canvases laying around.

Then again, maybe I should leave them as they are and make another trip to the Museum.  I could show my creativity by naming them something other than "Untitled" ... "Unfinished" touches a chord, don't you think?

I just wish I still had the various pieces of unfinished furniture I've had at one time or the other.  Had I known they might be priceless museum pieces, I never would have sold them at garage sales.

Pets become an important part of the family, especially after children are grown and gone.  Pets seem to take you back to the days when you awoke to the pitter-patter of little feet running down the hallway and the inevitable lunge into the middle of the bed.

At least that's how it feels around here with our 50-pound-four-legged-golden-haired-bundle of energy. 

Angel was finally allowed on the bed one Saturday morning and has since decided that this must be a morning ritual.  I did manage to win the argument of where she sleeps at night, but first thing in the morning I now wake to a cold, wet nose, wiggling rear end and sloppy-wet-doggy-kisses. Of course, Sarah-the-cat is already there, purring loudly and nudging my hand for her morning petting.

These two have become our "children" (don't worry, Michelle ... you still get the jewelery!) which is why, when one of them is sick or hurt, we worry.  So when a wart-looking lump appeared on Angel's nose, seemingly overnight, and our first thought was cancer (OMG! Our-little-girl-is-going-to-die-type-cancer!), a visit to the vet became a priority.

The doctor looked at her nose yesterday and then asked if she has been scratching a lot, particularly her feet, ears and face.  Well, yes she has ... in fact, she somehow manages to get her entire foot in her mouth, sometimes all the way up to the "elbow" ... lately her scratching has been driving me crazy (her collar comes off at night so I don't have to listen to the clink-clank-clink of the tags when she scratches) and there are no fleas.  I've been threatening to get some sheep dip.

"No, no need. She has allergies. Very common with Labs and for some reason, Golden Labs in particular. Not so much for black Labs.  Give her Benedryl. Over the counter, made-for-people-but-dogs-can-take-it-too Benedryl."

*sigh* Allergies.

What's she allergic to?  Dog hair?

Yes, I did it again. I stole a meme from someone (aka SweetOne) because I have that big black hole in my little brain again. *sigh* 

But look on the bright side ... there's not a whole lot you don't know about me by now!

If you could grant one wish to someone what would it be and why?
For my son-in-law ... that he would get over his fear of flying so whether he wanted to visit or not, he'd at least let Michelle, The Monkey and The Bean fly out to visit!

How much cash do you currently have on hand (not in the bank!)?
Ummmm, counting all the change in jars & my car?  Do I have to count it? Can I guess? Yeah? Okay, probably a couple hundred dollars.

How much (per gallon) did you pay for gasoline the last time you stopped?
WOO-HOO! $1.88 (which included my 10 cent/gallon discount because I've spent hundreds on groceries ... but I'm saving on gas!)

What is the most unusual food you have ever eaten?
Unusual? Is Escargot "unusual"? How about alligator?

Have you ever done anything with integrity even though you knew no one else would know?
I try to do everything with integrity ... is this a trick question?

What are you currently wearing?
White fleece robe (it's still early)

What is the best thing you've done this summer?
Went to Vegas and saw my grandbabies!

How many countries have you visited? (Which ones?)
Two - Mexico (Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Mazatlan); England (London & surrounding areas)

The phone rang sometime earlier… who was the last person to call?
No, it didn't!  Rang yesterday. Does that count? Last person to call was Uncle Jerry.

Who do you think serves the best cheeseburger in the world?
In the world? I don't know ... I haven't tried all of them!  In my experience, I'd have to say In-n-Out (and I wish they would get to Texas!)

When is the last time you took a bubble bath?
Pffffftttt! About thirty years ago!  I'm allergic to all that smell-good-foo-foo-bubbly stuff.  I stick to showers.

What is the biggest lie you ever told and what was your reason for telling that lie?
Now, if I tell you, the person I lied to will know I lied and that wouldn't be good! Besides, I really don't remember ... Honest!

What specific song/musician/group, etc. has touched your life at one time or another? Please elaborate.
The Grateful Dead - Truckin' (and someday, I'll elaborate! Maybe).

If you could bring one person back from the dead and spend one day with them, who would it be and why?
My mom. Why? To be able to say all the things I should have said while she was alive.

What do you think makes someone a "good" person?
Honesty. Compassion. Integrity.

Describe one thing in your life that was totally unexpected and how it changed you.
The birth of my daughter (well, the birth wasn't unexpected but the pregnancy was). It taught me how to love.

What is a decision you made on a quick judgment that you regretted?
Taking the job in Fresno ... never should have done that!

What is the biggest lie that someone has ever told you and how did you react upon finding it out?
Well, wasn't actually an outright lie to me, but it was extremely dis-honest. A friend continued to receive SSI checks for her mother after her mother's death. It destroyed the friendship.

What has been the happiest memory in your life to date?
The day my daughter was born ... and then the day my granddaughter was born ... and then the day my second granddaughter was born.

What is something that all people realize about you?
That I have a lousy sense of humor ...

When was the last time you romantically kissed someone, and who was it?
If I don't say Tom, I may be in trouble here! Of course it was him!

What's one thing you REALLY want for Christmas this year?
Well, it would be nice if we could have all of the kids and grandkids here together but I seriously doubt if that's going to happen ... other than that, there's really nothing I want or need. Hmmm ... how about a tummy-tuck?

Growing up, what pets did you have as a child, and what were their names?
Ah, jeez!  There were too many to remember! I know there were a lot of cats and we always had German Shepards (I do remember Friday and Lady); and a mean little basset hound. 

When was the last time you experienced synchronicity in your life?
Synchronicity??? Is this like that integrity question? If I ever have synchronicity in my life, I'm going to start looking over my shoulder for that black-hooded-scythe-wielding-character!

What was the last thing you ate?
Bite-size Butterfinger and bite-size Almond Joy!

Do you have any plans for the next hour? How about the next week? Or perhaps even the next month?
Next hour: Take a shower; Next week: Get ready for the kids visit (woo-hoo!); Next month: Let's not push it, ok?

What's the last thing that made you smile?
Waking up this morning!  It's always a good thing, when you wake up in the morning!

What's the last book you read? What was it about? Would you recommend it to anyone else?
Night by Elie Wiesel ... true story of his family and the Holocaust.  Already recommended it (Steph took it home with her).

By the way, any and all questions are still welcome if you're curious about anything I haven't answered here.  I may even answer them seriously.

No, you aren't hallucinating ... there was a different post here earlier and it will be back tomorrow. But for now, there's something much more important.

Please visit Jules and/or say a prayer for her son who was in a serious auto accident yesterday.  His best friend, who was with him, was killed.

And take a minute today to hug your family & friends and tell them that you love them.

I used to love Halloween.  The costumes. The kids. The candy. The Black cats.  The full moon. The wine.

*Wait! What did she say? The wine????*

Yes, the wine.  I always believed that adults should enjoy the evening as much as the kids so when Michelle was young, a friend and I would take her around the neighborhood for the usual Trick-or-Treat.

Except my friend and I would accompany Michelle to the door and after her "Trick-or-Treat!" greeting and the expected handout of tooth-decaying sweets, we would hold out our wine glasses and intone to the unsuspecting candy provider, "Trick-or-Drink!"

Sure, there were your standard stick-in-the-mud-teetotaler-sourpusses who looked at us as though we were the neighborhood chainsaw-wielding-hockey-masked-killers; but more often than not, our glasses were filled and we went merrily on our way.

By the end of the evening we were in no pain and somehow found our way home, much to the credit of Michelle I'm sure. 

Now, this was in the days before poisoned apples and heroin-injected-Snickers-bars, but nonetheless, Michelle's candy had to be checked before she was allowed to dive in and I was able to convince her that by the time she woke up the next morning, her candy would be safe to eat.

At least that's what I always told her.  The truth was that mom was in no shape to clean up the inevitable mess of candy wrappers or deal with an energetic-sugar-filled-wild-child.

I think she was a little skeptical however, that every year, all of the Almond Joy bars were poisoned and had to be "thrown" away.