North Side Drivers

I have an addiction to Sonic. The real fruit slush with strawberry to be exact. So today I was going to take the boys to get our usual.
On my way to Sonic, I was driving south on Willow from Copper. Anyone who has driven on this street knows that this is a two lane road with a double yellow line. Well, it never fails a young, teenager gets behind me and tailgates me like no ones business. Now normally, for the sake of my kids, I get over into another lane or speed up a little to appease the idiot who doesn't know how to drive. Today, this young girl was in no such luck. I was behind several other cars that wanted to drive under the speed limit. Apparently this girl was very irritated that this was happening to her so she rode my donkey. For every stoplight I watched in my rear view mirror to make sure she noticed that my brake lights were lighting up. But she didn't get it, she continued to drive on my bumper. Now, don't get me wrong....I have been known a time or two to slam on my brakes for the "big, black dog" that runs across the street in front of me. And let me tell you, that dog runs right in front of me and I have to slam those brakes on real hard. This "big, black dog" has been lucky so far and has escaped every time. And most people that have had a problem respecting my back end, have got the hint. I was happy when my turn off came and I could get away from this girl, who is in need of a driver re-exam at the DMV.
It made me feel better when I was paying for my Sonic and noticed a Clovis Police Officer behind me in the drive thru. I asked to pay or their drink as well, knowing that they have to deal with idiots such as the teenage driver all day long. It's the little things that can change your attitude and make another person feel appreciated all in one shot.

Undecover Boss

I am sitting on my couch watching Under Cover Boss and the company being represented is Roto-Rooter. I am very impressed with the CEO of that company. After working in his employees shoes and seeing what they go thru on a daily basis, he truly rewarded them. He saw that he had people working for him that really represent his company and are positive while doing so. It is because of those people that he has become successful. I wish more employers would do what he did. People need to be recognized for their hard work and dedication.
I have watched this show before, but it was the Hooters episode. Not nearly as good of company to work for. I guess anyone could have guessed that though. How much of a reward can you give anyone who would wear that outfit?

State Board Take 1

I have been working for 18 months and it all comes down to one day....State Board. During the 18 months of school I have found that I truly enjoy doing hair, primarily haircutting and coloring. It was going to come to the finale on Thursday morning in Glendale, when I took the only test that mattered.
On Wednesday , I picked up Audrey and we headed to Glendale. Our trip that was originally going to start casually, got sped up due to there being a demonstration for the practical exam at 1 o'clock. So we sped there, got checked into our hotel and went and got something to eat.
I got to the kit demonstration at 12:45 and was happy with what the rental place showed me and tips they gave me. I checked the kit, got extra stuff and went back to the hotel. I was able to study for a while and Audrey read her Twilight book.
After about 2 hours, we decided to hit the Glendale mall which was across the street. It was quite a place. We really enjoyed going and walking around, shopping, hitting happy hour and getting cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory.
We went back to the hotel and studied some more. Finally it was too late to stay up. We shut the TV off and I crashed. I had been a ball full of nerves all day and my body had had it!
Well, the sleep was short lived because I woke up at 3:45 in the morning and hit the books again. Audrey woke up too because even through she wasn't testing, she was totally supportive and wanted to get me thru this time.
We were at Starbucks at 5:45 and at the rental kit company at 6:35. Then we ran over to the State Board testing facility which opened at 6:50. I felt comfortable....well, as comfortable as I could feel, being that was taking a huge test! I felt ready because I had studied and studied.....I am talking hours and hours people! They let us in the building and it all started.
We started taking the actual test at 7:45. When the test started I started feeling the stress. I started sweating like no one's business. I was dripping in sweat. I don't think I could explain it any better than that! It was gross. It was so bad in fact, that my mascara started running and my head was itching. It was the most horrible memory! After I got into the swing of things, I relaxed a bit. Although I was still forgetting little things and not doing the most perfect job, I was on a mission to pass this freaking test!
It was finally over at noon. I was relieved, but kept replaying everything in my head. All the things I didn't do right...and on and on. At 12:25, I took my written test. That was even worse. I had taken so many tests online and was so comfortable with those, but these questions were nothing like that! I was stumped the whole time, but was comforted in the fact that I could re-take the test in Fresno if I needed to. When I walked outta there I was almost in tears. At that point I felt like a failure!
So Audrey was my little cheerleader and told me not to worry. We walked around, had some lunch and waited because the results of the test weren't available until 3:00. So what a terrible 2 hours that was. I called David a hundred times to ask him if he would still love me if I didn't pass, I was stressed and overwhelmed and my body was done!
At 3:00 I went into the waiting room and the results were there. I was the second name called. It was what I expected, three pages of information. When you pass you get your license which is one page, when you have three pages you failed! I looked at the first page and I could feel tears come to my eyes. I couldn't even look at it. I walked into the hall, where Audrey was waiting for me. I handed her the results and walked straight to the bathroom to release some tears. When I came out she gave me a big hug and told me that she was proud of me regardless of my passing or not.
We walked to the car, where I eventually broke down. I felt like I had let my family down and that I had worked so hard for nothing. Audrey made me feel better with encouraging words and my leftover cheesecake. We drove home and by the end of the trip it wasn't so bad. I guess I will have to try again and this time I have the upper hand because I know what to expect. I wish I didn't have to go thru the stress again, but sometimes you have to do things, not because you want to, but because you want to get somewhere in life. I just hope that this time, the results are positive and I can do some celebrating afterward!

Busy day

Today was quite a day. David worked the last half of the graveyard shift, so he came home at 7:30 this morning. Right then, the boys got up and that means I have to as well. I let the boys jump on the trampoline for a half hour to get some of their energy out before the heat came and before David tucked himself in bed for a couple hours of sleep.
After breakfast, we got ready and headed out to get the car washed and go to Costco, which was crazy busy. I thought that since the 4th was two days out it wouldn't be that crazy....I was wrong. I needed gas, but judging by the line it would be a 40 minute wait. Forget it. We got our business done and we were outta there.
After dropping the groceries off at home and eating lunch, we went to the Dollar Tree. All I really needed was a balloon bouquet for the hostess of the 4th of July party we are going to, but of course you have to look around....everything is only $1. After paying for the bouquet and waiting for 30 minutes, the cashier tells me that they have run out of helium and the selection I have chosen they cannot do. So I go rummaging thru the balloons they already have. When I say rummaging, I mean I got out their stepping stool and broom and batted thru the balloons until I got the ones I wanted. I think the boys were embarrassed because Gavin kept asking me it I was allowed to do what I was doing. It's the Dollar Tree who cares if I was acting ghetto.
So we get home and my Mom had called and told me to come get her so we can go to the golf course and go swimming. We arrive at that golf course and start our swimming when some of Gavin's school friends come in. That is great, but the Mom's are snobs and have some issue with me which makes no sense to me since I have never talked to them! That is a whole other story that I will not get into. So we swim and hang out for a couple hours. We no sooner get in the car when David calls and says that he is coming home from work and is taking the day off. Really? I have nothing ready for dinner and I have to clean the house. So I get home, change, vacuum, mop and scrub the boys bathroom. When he gets home I am full on sweaty and foul. What a welcome he got.
So after our wonderful dinner of leftovers, I sit on the couch and itch from the terrible heat rash I got somewhere along the way. I will be happy when tomorrow comes.