A quick post to let you know that I have not completely disappeared off the planet, but I swear that the wind is trying to blow us off the Rez!
As soon as the weather become a little more stable, I’ll get everyone caught up on what’s been happening in the Northwoods.
It has certainly been interesting the last couple of days!
I just realized something terrible.
Horrible even.
Something that I didn’t plan for.
That’s right, tomorrow is my Monday shopping day. Memorial Day. A day when people should be at their homes or cabins enjoying their BBQs and beer and not be jam-packed on the streets of my local town.
Unfortunately, I have lived up here long enough to know that the odds of that happening are slim to none. Believe me, I have tested fate before with the assumption that I could get into town on what should be a fairly calm day only to be slapped back into reality.
So now I must plan my strategy.
I only have 2 places that I need to go, unfortunately they are both smack dab in the middle of town.
Craptastic.
Yes, I know, I could just skip tomorrow and go next Monday. Believe me, this time of the year it doesn’t matter what day you go, the place will be swarming with people. Plus, I’m not about to change my plans because of a couple thousand crazy people. Nope, I will be strong and vigilant. I will stand up to them. I will smile and be polite.
Most of all, I will go to my happy place. My Utopia where nobody can piss me off.
And to avoid being killed by people thinking that they are driving the Audubon, I will use as many right turns and stop lights as I possibly can.
Yep, sounds silly, but it is the only way I can see to make it into and out of there alive.
Wish me luck.
Memorial Weekend is here and with it comes the official start of Tourist Season in my neck of the woods.
For the next 3 months we will have to endure an influx of travelers seeking an escape from their fast-paced city lives and claiming rightful ownership to the area in which I live.
And as a touristy area, the businesses thrive on the type of income it brings. Heck, they count on it for their livelihood. Some even forsake their year-round, loyal patrons hoping to make a buck or two from these people.
Simply put: the locals are now second class citizens.
Example:
Our group that took Anita out the other day was actually asked to move to another area of a restaurant on the pretense that we had to order food in order to stay where we were because they “might” need our table. Come to find out that some of the tourists didn’t seem to like that we were laughing and having a good time, and complained. You might guess that quite a few of us will not be frequenting that establishment again. And you can almost guarantee that others will be told of the incident.
You know, I wouldn’t mind it so much if they weren’t so darn rude. I swear, they should have to take driving lessons to remember how to use their blinkers and not just thrust their SUVs out in traffic hoping not to kill somebody.
Yesterday I was reminded of the perfect bumper sticker that sums up how some of the people around here feel this time of year.
Gotta love friends with a sense of humor.
* Pictures courtesy of Google Images.
My coworker, Anita, has be offered a great opportunity at another college that is a) closer to her home, and b) has an awesome salary.
How could she turn that down? Well, she couldn’t really. And she didn’t. Even after I told her she couldn’t go. Yes, I actually told her this. And she laughed at me. But I understand. This really was a hard decision for her, and I wish her the best of luck.
But I have to say, I KNOW she is not going to find anywhere else in the world to work that has the kind of atmosphere that we do at the college.
How do I sum it up?
It’s fun, serious, easy going, stressful (at times), flexible, and goofy. Wait, that was just our office.
So on her last day, we sent her off with a get together in the student center with the number one item that she adores: Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake.
This also happened to be her lunch since she was frantically scrambling to finish last minute items so that we wouldn’t fully fall apart today.
And at promptly 3 pm, we drug her away (kicking and screaming) to her favorite watering hole/restaurant in town.
Actually, I like to think of the event as a “Roast” of sorts, since it was basically letting everything out in the open in a happy, “What are they going to do, fire me?” sort of way.
And when I heard this song on the way home last night, I thought it fit the atmosphere perfectly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s9qx6pJBvc
Anita and her wonderful husband Kevin. This man is a hoot and a half. I didn’t realize that we were going to have comedic entertainment!
Anita and my best bud Shanna.
“Yippee for me!”
“I rock.”
“See, I’m happy!”
“Yesh, we’re having fun now!”
My compadre, Christi. It’s you and me now, chica!
Well, until we can find another person that has very big shoes to fill. Which will not be easy. There are very strict criteria that have to be met in order to sit at Anita’s desk.
Two of which are an absolute must: 1) You have to be a freeze baby and tolerate space heaters year round; 2) A slight case of OCD.
These are non-negotiable.
But really, nobody can replace you Anita.
You truly do rock, girlfriend!
I know I said I probably wouldn’t have a post tonight, and I don’t.
What I do have is a little insight onto the type of wonderfully nutty person my coworker Anita was and give a little taste of what she brought to the office.
She is moving onto bigger and better things in the accounting world.
And she will have her own office.
Which she hates.
You have to know her to understand.
She absolutely loved The Muppets, so as a tribute to her, I give you the following: