LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI - I AM PRAYING FOR YOU

And I think I  have it bad????  Man - those poor people in Louisiana and Mississippi!  Tennessee is sending tractor trailer loads of water and other supplies down to LA- and I'm going to give some money to Red Cross - wish there was more I could do - I really feel for those people especially those who have lost EVERYTHING.  and the LOOTING that is going on - people just helping themselves to everything - and it's not stuff that is needed for survival - they are taking things like tvs, stereos, jewelry, stuff like that - that is LOW.  I don't think anyone would condem people who took food or water - they are desperate - but TVS!!!!! Oh come now - they don't have electricity!!  Tragedies either bring out the best in people - or the WORST.  Happens every time.

I'm not even going to complain today - I have a home - I have fresh, drinkable water - and I have my son and my animals.  I AM RICH!

Peace

THE WINDS FROM KATRINA HAVE ARRIVED!

Ryan is finally on the mend - thak goodness.  He is feeling much better - can breathe through his nose again, and generally feels better.  We went to eat at Shoney's last night and he scarfed up his dinner in no time and then wanted to go to Dairy Queen for dessert - so we did.

The finches are totally back to normal - twittering away this morning and seem happy enough.

Still driving the Stratus - kind of like this car - but can't wait to get my little Civic back again.  Should get it back tomorrow.

Neck still painful - what else is new.

Wales, the little yorkie from "down the hall" came to visit me this morning for his bite of cheese - he is sooooo sweet.

My two babies have been like velcro - as soon as I get home, they "attach" themselves to me for the rest of the night - can't even take a shower without both of them wanting to be in the bathroom with me.

Had an awesome dream last night - dreamed I got picked for Extreme Home Makeover and WHAT A HOUSE!  Ah well.

Anyway - think this day is going to be a smooth one - hope so - soooooooo

Peace

 

WHAT A DAY!

Well.....where to start.....

Okay....took my car in to the body shop to leave it to get it fixed - got a rental car - a Dodge Stratus - nice car - power everything....no problem....my car should be ready on Wednesday.  Cost to repair car - $350.00.  Okay.

Went to the office - first thing I always do is check on my little finches to see if they are okay.  Saw Barbara and Betsy - where was Beau?  Beau had gotten tangled up in a string off the bag of millett I had hung in their cage and he was SWINGING by one leg - like a clock pendulum.  WHERE ARE THE SCISSORS??????  Found the scissors and snipped the string and gently laid Beau on the bottom of the cage.  As soon as he figured out he was no longer attached - he fluttered (couldn's say he flew) up to the top perch where he huddled - not stood - huddled, breathing VERY fast and not looking good at all.  I don't know how long he was hanging - but he looked terrible.  He had a little of the string still on his little leg but there was no way I was going to stress him out even more by trying to get that off.  Betsy and Barbara got on either side of him and got real close to him - very sweet.  I gave them fresh water and seed and just sort of watched Beau for awhile to see if he was going to be okay.  After about an hour, I noticed that he had hopped over to the water bowl and got a drink - good sign.  He was still "huddled" on the perch and the weird thing was - none of the finches had made a single sound since I came into the office - I mean - not that first little chirp - nothing.  I had never seen them so silent.  About an hour later, I noticed that Beau was "preening" and that made me feel A LOT better - he was doing "normal bird stuff".  Then they started "talking" to each other and things got back to normal real fast after that.  By 1:00 Beau was chasing Barbara all over the cage and they were really vocal.  So I guess he is going to be alright.  He removed the little bit of string from his leg himself, and I was thankful for THAT.

Okay.....then I called my doctor and they called me in some pain medicine, but I really don't want that - what I want is for my neck to GET better not just FEEL better.  So now I have a referral to Springbrook Therapy for Thursday afternoon.  Thank heavens!  NOW maybe I'll start to get and feel better.

My friend and soul-sister, Helenis coming up from Georgia  for a "lunch date" on 9/14 - can hardly wait to see her.

So - this was my day.......hope everyone who visits here has a great week....and.....

Peace

 

IT'S SUNDAY AND MY NECK STILL HURTS

Well - I''m beat.....and stupid.  It is now almost 10:45 p.m. on Sunday night and I JUST REALIZED that I failed to stop at the front desk of the motel we stayed at and CHECK OUT!  Man - I'm loosing it!  Had started to add this entry when I realized what I had done - THANK GOD the motel people are accomodating - a very nice young man told me not to worry about anything - that he had an imprint of my card and he could take care of it - WHEW!  I could just see me having to drive back up to Gatlinburg tonight to sign this slip.

ANYWAY - the show on Friday night went great even though we had to kind of re-do some blocking because of my stupid neck and shoulder.  No shaking of me this weekend.  I'm not sure what the next step is on the neck deal.  I take my car in tomorrow morning to get the bumper fixed so the car will be good again - I hope I will be soon.  I can't afford to NOT work next weekend AND I'm supposed to go to "cultural training" from 9 to 12 on Sat. and the work the park from 1 to 8 p.m.  PLEASE let me neck be better.

We had a good weekend despite my neck.  We went to Dixie Stampede last night - we had to have supper anyway and it's a great place to go.  Luckily we had seats so that I didn't have to turn my head to watch the show so it worked out really well.  Am trying the muscle relaxant at night but it hasn't seemed to help that much.  The ibuprofen seems to help as much as anything - but IT STILL HURTS!  Phooey.

Ryan has a miserable cold and I think he is running a low grade fever tonight - just have him some medicine.  Hope he feels better tomorrow.  I'd much rather me be sick that him.

Tomorrow starts another week - hope it is a better one for me - and anyone else who visits here.....

Peace

FOUND ANOTHER PICTURE OF LOUISE SO I'M ADDING IT

I found this other picture of Louise Mandrell that I took on Ryan's birthday and decided to go ahead and post it also.

My neck is no better - called the doctor and she said to put ice on it several times a day and see if that would help.  If not she will refer me for therapy.  Phoey.  I didn't want this at all.

I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to work Dollywood this weekend - still can't turn my head to the right and the pain in my left shoulder is still there.  Funny thing is - this was a MINOR accident - my car sustained minor damage - if I hadn's had my neck turned to the right when the lady hit me - it might not have hurt me at all.  Phoey.  This has turned into a MAJOR thing for me.  DRAT!

PICTURES OF RYAN'S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

1.   Ashley and Jill on stage at Louise Mandrell's theatre.  They are such sweeties and such good friends.  We love them bunches!!

2.  Ryan with Ashley and Turner.  We met Turner when she worked at Dollywood

3.  Louise Mandrell - at end of show - what a great lady.  She will be sorely missed by everyone who ever saw a show of hers.  She is multi-talented - and just a nice, nice person.

4.  Ryan with his baskets of goodies for the girls in Louise's show.  He spends his own money for these things and picks out the stuff himself.

5.  Ryan with Jennifer.  She has been with Louise for a long time - very talented and very sweet.

6.  Ryan and Jill.  We have known Jill for several years.  She and Ashley were at Dollywood when Ryan first got to know them.  When they left - he was heartbroken, but cheered right up when he found out we could still see them wherever they were working.  Jill and Ashley have been sooo sweet with Ryan ever since they met him.  And he thinks they hung the moon!  (so do I)

7.  Ryan and me at Louise's show.  I got the woman sitting in front of us to take the picture.  Our seats were 2nd row center - and we could see everything!

8.  Ryan and Tosha at Black Bear Jamboree.  Tosha was also at Dollywood when we first me her.  This is her first season at Black Bear and she is doing a great job.  She is very talented and also very sweet.

9.  What a GREAT weekend!!!!  This picture speaks for itself.

 

WELL - MONDAY TURNED OUT TO BE NOT SO GOOD FOR ME

I was stopped at a 3-way stop on my way to the bank this afternoon and right when I took my foot off my brake to turn - WHAM - a lady rear-ended me, snapping my neck - OWEEEEE.

Went to the ER and spent 3 hours lying flat on my back in a cervical collar - THAT HURTS - it made my EARS ache.  They x-rayed me from here to yesteryear and the x-rays showed no disc or spinal damage - but MAN OH MAN - does my neck and shoulder ever hurt.  Can't turn my head all the way to the right and the pain goes down my left shoulder.

The good news is that the lady had insurance and they have already contacted me about fixing my rear bumper and paying my meds - they want to settle for $200 and my meds - no.  My boss said .... no.  So we will see.

The bad news for the lady that hit was that she found out that her driver's license had been suspended.  I felt "kind of" sorry for her - but geez.  I am hurting.

I got my pictures developed and put on a CD and will put some on this site tomorrow.  Got some good ones but some didn't turn out and that broke my heart - but what can you do - nothing - be grateful for the ones that I did get.

Would love to take a pain pill tonight - but didn't get them filled - so hope I can sleep - didn't get much last night.

Hope everyone who visits here finds innner happiness and....

Peace

MONDAY - AND I DIDN'T EVEN DREAD IT!!

Well - I won't get to take my camera to get my pictures developed until tomorrow - I have a rehearsal tonight and also late clients coming in (no they are not DEAD - just late in the afternoon).

It's been a Monday morning here - but that's okay - I'm doing great.

May post more later - until then........

Peace

WHAT AN AWESOME WEEKEND WE HAVE HAD!!!!

Well it is Sunday night and we are home - God was good - He watched over our house and our little dogs and my birds and everything was just fine when we got home - my babies were sooooooo glad to see us.

Ryan had an awesome birthday weekend!  Everything went just fine and smoooth as silk.

On Friday we went to Black Bear Jamboree and we got to see Tosha but Jen was off - much to Ryan's dissappointment.  But the show was great, the food was great and we got our picture made and bought the DVD of Thursday night's show so Ryan could at least SEE Jen in the show.

Saturday morning we slept in and when we finally roused ourselves - we were starved!!  LOl  We went to Bob Evans Restaurant and had a really good "brunch" and then we were off toe Laser Port when Ryan chose to spend $10 of  his birthday money from Deborah and Gary on tokens and he played games for about an hour.  I took a book and sat and read.

When the tokens were gone we opted to go back to our motel and "hit the pool" for about an hour - my face got more sun than anything so I have looked very "red faced" the rest of the weekend.

We got ready to go to the Louise Mandrell show and dropped off our "goody baskets" that Ryan had fixed for "his girls" and then ate supper at the Alabama Grill - very nice.

Louise's show was everything we had hoped it would be and more.  This is her "final season" in Pigeon Forge and she will be sorely missed.  BUT her husband, who has a neurological disorder is MUCH better and he wants her home with him for awhile so she is going back to Nashville and spend time with him.  We will miss her but she is going where God is directing her to go - so who can argue with THAT!

I took lots of pictures and am going to get them developed and put on a CD so that I can share them here in my journal - so check back....say.....maybe Wednesday and I might have them up by then.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME - ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!!

PEACE!

 

INTRODUCING......BEAU, BARBARA & BETSY

Well - here are my little finches - they are soooo sweet - Beau is the one with the orange stripes on his face, Barbara is the smaller female on the nest and Betsy the larger one.  They are still mad at me for taking their eggs away from them - but they were not going to hatch so maybe they will now lay some more.  I'd love to hatch just one baby and watch it grow.

Friday is finally here - and this will be my last post until Sunday when I get home (if I'm not too tired) - otherwise it will be Monday.  I hope to get some pictures of Ryan this weekend to post on Monday.

Hope everyone has a great weekend - we plan on having one - AND we are closing early today to boot - GREAT FRIDAY FOR ME!!!!

Peace

A THURSDAY AFTER WEDNESDAY - DONT' I LEAD AN EXCITING LIFE?

We FINALLY had another rehearsal with my theatre group - I hadn't seen these people in "a month of Sundays" and I miss them sooooo much.  AND April wasn't there - she was sick so I STILL haven't seen her in a month of Sundays and now a month of Thursdays too...LOL

We are gearing up for our show in Gatlinburg next Friday.  We are doing a show we have done "a million times" - actually it was the very first show we ever did so we all know the lines and the blocking and with April out tonight we basically sat around and yacked.  Oh we ran the lines - sort of - but no blocking - no need to do that - so we yacked.  It was nice.

I also got my tips from the last two show I did - $60!!!! Boy - it was great to get that - with Ry's birthday weekend coming up.  That will actually pay for one of our nights in the motel. 

Tomorrow I'm going to try to upload a picture of my little finches I took yesterday - was going to to it today but forgot until just now - oh well.

Alf Veederzane - phonitically

and Peace

HUMP DAY - AGAIN - WHOOPEE

Well - I'm excited - I finally found the charger for my digital camera - it was in the BATHROOM - don't ask - can't answer.

Hopefully I will be able to put some more pictures in this journal.  I took a picture of my little finches today and will try to add that picture tomorrow.

I hope to take pictures of Ryan this weekend at Black Bear and Louise's show.  Only two more nights at home this week - boy I am going to miss my puppies sooooo much.  If we could just take them with us - it would be perfect, but they would NOT be happy.

Oh well - see ya tomorrow

Peace

IT'S TUESDAY AFTER A MONDAY

Okay - it's a Tuesday.  Wow.  I have this little place on my face that I'm mildly worried about - guess I'll try to get it checked.  I'm not a "sun bunny" but I am out in the sun on my weekend job.  Just don't like the looks of this place - it's probably nothing.  Hope so anyway.

Didn't sleep good last night - not sure why.  Just a quiet day here.  Nothing much going on.  May post more later.

Peace

IT'S MONDAY - AND I FORGOT TO POST HERE YESTERDAY!!!

Wow - I can't believe that I forgot to post something yesterday - I guess I was just too euphoric being off!!

I slept until 12:30 - I was soooo tired.  Ryan was so good - he let me sleep.  I knew he came to my bedroom door a couple of time to "check" on me, but he didn't bother me at all.  It was so nice to wake up, and turn over and go back to sleep.

We went to IHOP for breakfast/lunch and then to see "The Dukes of Hazard".  Ryan had wanted to see The Bad News Bears, but the only showings of that were at 1:00 (already missed that one) and 7 p.m. (didn't want to see a movie that late) and "Dukes" was the only show coming on within the next hour so we got tickets for that.  It was better than I thought it would be - but had an awful lot of "bad words" that didn't add to the show at all. 

I don't understand the director and producer of these movies thinking that bad language "adds" to a movie - it doesn't at all.  That movie would have been just as good without all the GD's, S's, H's and D's.

Saw a preview for "The 40 Year Old Virgin" that looks like it would be pretty funny, and "The Man" that looks like it would also be good.  Saw a couple of previews for "scary" movies - just not my thing anymore - the previews had me jumping in my seat - can't imagine what the whole movie would do to me....LOL

Heard from Jill, one of our friends from Louise Mandrell's show - she has our tickets, THEY ARE ALREADY PAID FOR, and under Ashley's name this time.  Those girls are so good to us - I wanted to pay for the tickets this time and Jill e-mailed me back and said "it is the least they could do for us".  What friends they have become to us - we just love them to pieces.

Well, I may post again tonight to make up for not posting yesterday.  I have no excuse.

Peace

SATURDAY NIGHT - I'M POOPED!

Well - another Saturday under my belt - boy did we have a storm in Sevier County this afternoon!  It was a "lulu".  Lots of heavy rain, some thunder and lightning.  Our ride was down for over 2 hours while we waited for the storm to pass.  and I'M OFF TOMORROW!!!!  Gonna turn my alarm off and just sleep until I wake up - how wonderful.  I won't go back to DW until the 21st - the day after Ry's birthday.  (sigh)

Oh well - this is all I can do tonight - too tired to think!

Peace

SLAPPED, SCREWED AND SHAFTED - SO TRUE SO TRUE

This was e-mailed to me and I thought it was great - so  - enjoy!

Dear Employee:
 
As a result of the reduction of money budgeted for department areas, we are forced to cut down on our number of personnel.
 
Under this plan, older employees will be asked to take early retirement, thus permitting the retention of younger people who represent our future. Therefore, a program to phase out older personnel by the end of the current  fiscal year, via retirement, will be placed into effect immediately.
 
This program will be known as SLAP (Sever Late-Aged Personnel). Employees who are SLAPPED will be  given the opportunity to look for jobs outside the
company.
 
SLAPPED employees can request a review of their employment records before actual retirement takes place. This review  phase of the program is called SCREW.
 
SCREW  (Survey of Capabilities of Retired Early Workers). All employees who have been SLAPPED and SCREWED may file an appeal with upper management.
 
This appeal is called SHAFT (Study by Higher Authority Following Termination).
 
Under the terms of the new policy, an employee may be SLAPPED once, SCREWED twice, but may be  SHAFTED as many times as the company deems appropriate.
 
If an employee follows the above procedure, he/she will be entitled to get: HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel's Early Severance) or CLAP (Combined Lump sum  Assistance Payment).
 
As HERPES and CLAP are considered  benefit plans, any employee who has received HERPES or CLAP will no longer be SLAPPED or SCREWED by the company.

Management wishes to assure the younger employees who remain on board that the company will continue its policy of training employees through our:  Special High Intensity Training (SHIT).  We take
pride in the amount of SHIT our employees receive. We have given our employees more SHIT than any company in this area. If any employee feels they do not receive enough SHIT on the job, see your immediate supervisor.
 
Your supervisor is specially trained to make sure you receive all the SHIT you can stand.
 
And, once again, thanks for all your years of service with us.

Management.

Peace to all who visit here -

 

JUST ANOTHER FRIDAY - BUT I'M OFF ON SUNDAY!!!!

My birds (the finches) are VERY vocal today - yesterday I removed their two eggs from the nest as it was pretty obvious they are not going to hatch.  They have been sitting on them for over a month now and when I took them out, they were almost hollow.  So they are mad at me, but they are very active today.  I'm pretty sure they will now lay some more eggs and then we'll see if we can hatch a baby.

I am off on Sunday!!!!  I am soooo glad.  I've got a ton of stuff to do at my house including the ever present laundry.  I went to Target last night to get a shower gift for a friend and they had their jersey knit sheet sets on sale for $10 - I love those kind of sheets - they are sooo soft and comfortable.  I got a set for me and Ryan.  I put his on his bed last night and when I peeked in on him before I left for work, he was all cuddled up and looked so peaceful.  Hopefully I can get mine on my bed tonight.  Then we will BOTH be sleeping good...LOL

I guess I'll start getting ready for our weekend birthday bash - next Saturday Ryan will be 24 - so hard to believe.  Seems like just a couple of years ago he was just a baby.  Time marches on.

The weather forcast calls for rain again tomorrow but I don't care.  Maybe it will cool it down just a little without making it so humid. 

Well - I guess I'll try to get a little work done here at the office.  Hope everyone has a great and safe weekend.

Peace

AN OUNCE OF PRETENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF MANURE!

I don't know about gas prices where you are but here they just went up to $2.29 for REGULAR - good Lord.  As I sat in line waiting for my turn at the pump, in my little Honda Civic, who should pull up in the line right next to me but some IDIOT driving a HUMMER.  It was all I could do to stay in my car and not get out and kick the side of this monstrosity.  With the windows tinted and the chrome gleaming, the driver opened the door, litterally SLID out of the car and oh what a picture - YUPPIE CITY - khakie pants, Polo shirt, dockers - and the ever present sunglasses. He was actually "smirking" as he looked around and the small cars and trucks getting gas.  He thought he was sooooo important - LOOK AT ME - I DRIVE A HUMMER!!

Hummers get about 6 miles to the gallon and cost about $50,000.  WHY WOULD ANYONE DRIVE ONE OF THESE THINGS WITH GAS PRICES WHAT THEY ARE NOW?????????????  These idiots are just contributing to the problem. 

Hummers are military vehicles - to provide the military with protection and the ability to travel over rough country.  There is not a street in my city that my Civic can't manuver, and I don't have any enemies that I need THAT much protection from.

I filled my tank for $22.00.  He filled his tank for - are you ready for this - $96.43.  Unbelievable - I just can't believe it.  And I'm sure that he'll be back at the pumps before I will. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

He could take that money and give it to the Red Cross, a homeless shelter, a crisis center, a children's home, a food pantry and actually HELP somebody else - but no - just throw that money in the gas tank of that "thing" and drive off his merry way - LOOK AT ME - I DRIVE A HUMMER!!!!

Idiot

I need to calm down -

Peace

HUMP DAY - AGAIN

Okay - it's Wednesday again - half the week is gone - and I can actually look forward to the weekend 'cause I'm OFF on Sunday - HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

I always try to find something to look forward to - it kind of helps me get through each week.  I have Ryan's birthday to look forward to this month and the next weekend I have a show in Gatlinburg (another night in a motel) and then there is Labor Day in September (when I'm off from the paralegal job) (but may have to work DW that day) then my birthday in September (which I really have no reason to look forward to turning 57 - other than I hope I wake up that morning!) and then in October is the BIGGIE - FOOTHILLS FALL FESTIVAL - oh wow - how I look forward to THAT.  It is a really neat community thing that started about 5 years ago - three days of non-stop musical entertainment right here in my little town of Maryville.  And is now known all across the U.S.  This year we have coming Trace Adkins, Daryl Worley, John Michael Montgomery, and LONESTAR - I can't wait!!!!!  There are other people coming also but I can't remember all the names.  AND for one ticket price of $35 you get to see all three days of shows - what a blast!!!!  I seit up my chair in the grass, plant my butt and enjoy myself tremendously.  It's outdoors so you gotta prepare for rain, but who cares???  NOT ME - rain or shine this event is one that I get more pleasure out of than anything else during the year.  Ryan is so good to let me have that weekend - he doesn't go with me - it's way too loud for him - he can't stand really loud music or noises.  But he doesn't complain even though he is by himself all weekend (except for nights of course).  He never complains and I always try to do something fun and special with him the weekend before or after.

Well - time to go home - need to do more laundry - what else is new.  Hope you have a great evening.

Peace

TUESDAY - AND MY HOME PHONE IS FIXED!!!

My phone at home is fixed so I can post from here tonight!  Ryan was so glad to see that repair man - even if he did come at 7:45 this morning....lol.....so much for me catching a few extra "winks" this morning.  The guy was so nice - he even trimmed some of the hedge so that nothing else would grow up on the line - he said the line had a "hard short" in it and he replaced the whole line from the pole to the house.  I was so thankful that it was a "BellSouth" problem and not any indoor wiring.

I am of on Sunday!!!!!  I can hardly wait.  Ryan wants to go see a movie and I need to do some more laundry - there is never enough time for me to do everything that I need to do.  And now the subject of "working at Christmas at Dollywood" is coming up.  Last year I agreed to be "on call" to work if they needed me and they scheduled me EVERY WEEKEND.  This year I am only cross-trained in parking as a conductor on the tram and I wouldn't mind being 'on call' but I don't want to work every weekend again.  I'll need to make a decision on this pretty quick and let them know.

Anyway - now we have a motel room for the 26th when I have a show in Gatlinburg 'cause I'll have to work at DW the next day - so we are "the motelers" this month....LOL

I'm tired - gonna hit the sack -

Peace and love to all who visit this humble journal.

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS ALWAYS GET ME DOWN

Well - it's Monday AND it's raining so I'm down. 

Saturday night I was indeed too pooped to turn the computer on - man were we busy at Dollywood - it was a lovely day - hot - and we had lots of people who wanted to ride a water ride and get wet.  Toward the late afternoon we had one of the late afternoon thunderstorms that we are so noted for here in the South, so we had to shut our ride down for about 40 minutes.  When we went back up we had a line of people still wanting to ride - I was tired - but the day was actually okay.  Yesterday it rained ALL DAY - just that annoying little misty rain that makes you miserable.  I was soaked to the bone by the end of the day.

I would have posted last night (sunday) but my home phone line went out and they are supposed to fix it today - let us hope.

I'll try to post again later today if I can.

Peace

IT'S FRIDAY IT'S FRIDAY - I'M SO GLAD IT'S FRIDAY

Another Friday is here - you know there is a song that says "I don't have to be me 'til Monday" and that's exactly how I feel on Fridays.  I don't have to be me 'til Monday. 

We are having a pot luck lunch on the Rampage tomorrow so I have to pick up some "home cooked" stuff at Kroger's...LOL

I know what I want - another Marie Callender cocoanut pie - they are WONDERFUL and some cole slaw.  And I will probably get something for my lunch on Sunday so I won't have to stop and get something then.

I made the reservations for Black Bear and the motel for Ry's birthday - and Robin called me from 3D and reminded me of our show in Gatlinburg on Aug 26 so we are getting a room at the River Terrace for that night - so we are the "motelers' this month...LOL.  We have shows in October and November too and we'll spend the night up there then also - makes it sooo much easier than driving home that late at night, especially if I have to work DW the next day.

Ryan LOVES to stay in motels and I have to admit - I do too!!!  Lazy ol' me - the only down side is not having the dogs with us.  Abby would do great but I think Millie would "wig out" in a motel - I've never taken her anywhere like that so not quite sure what she would do.  I miss them soooo much at night - just so used to having them on the bed.

I hope that I'll remember (and feel like) posting tomorrow night when I get home.  I've done pretty well posting every day except when I was out of town. 

Hope whoever visits here has a wonderful weekend!

Peace

JUST ANOTHER THURSDAY

I made our reservations today at the Mountain Melodies Inn for Ryan's birthday and finally got all the stuff that Ryan had collected for Jill's, Ashley's and Louise's goody baskets all together.  Now all I have to do is fix the tissue paper and bows and they will be ready to go.

I am really looking forward to his birthday this year.  I think a weekend at a NICE motel will do me a world of good.  I was not rested AT ALL at the Family Inns what with worrying about our door poping open and the comode filling up...LOL.

We have reservations to go the the Black Bear Jamboree on the 19th and then Louise's show on the 20th.  That means that we can SLEEP saturday morning until we wake up and have all day just to swim or just "chill".  I plan on "chillin" - LOL

Peace

IT'S "HUMP" DAY - OH GOODY GOODY

Well - today is Wednesday - called "hump day" because it's the middle of the week and only leaves Thursday and Friday before the weekend.  Whoopee. 

I am considerably calmer now and can talk about the past weekend and even laugh about it - mind over matter you know.

DW has scheduled me a day off - oh joy - oh rapture.  I work Sat and Sun this weekend and Sat next weekend and am off on Sunday!!  I am excited!!!!  I am also off on the 20th (Ryan's birthday) so we can have our little "fun" time in honor or his turning 24.  Wow - do I feel old!!

This is a short post today - not that much going on - so..................

Peace

MOTEL HELL - CHAPTER 3

Well - I went to the Grand Hotel web page and read the reviews by other guests and THEY HAD A WORSE EXPERIENCE THAN I DID!  So..... I am not going to ruin Ryan's birthday trip by staying at the Grand Hotel - I am going to make reservations at the Mountain Melodies Inn right across from the Louise Mandrell's theatre - it is 10 years old - the clerk assured me that the rooms are clean and there are no bugs - which seems to be the major complaint at the Grand Hotel - YUCKY POO POO - can't stand the thought of bugs.  AND they have the same cable television that we have at home so Ryan will have his Nick at Night and TVland to watch so we will be happy.

May do another update later today - we'll see

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - doing my mantra to calm down...,mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Peace

 

MOTEL HELL - CHAPTER TWO

Well - I did it - I contacted the person on the card that I received at Motel Hell when I left Monday morning. When I first dialed the number, the woman answered "Front Desk" - uh oh - so I asked for "Crystal" and my call was re-directed.  Another woman answered "Administrative Offices" - okay - that sounded better.  I asked for Crystal and was told she "had just stepped away from her desk - would I like to leave a message".  Oh yeah......I wanted to leave a message.  I asked that she return the call to Jayne AT ATTORNEY CHARLES CLIFFORD'S OFFICE and left the number.  Less than 2 minutes later, Crystal called me back!!!

I told her that I had just spend 3 of the worst nights of my life in one of her motels and she said "Oh my - what happened?"  I gave her an earful but I kept my cool and my temper and was able to be calm and polite.  She was amazed that I had had such a bad experience, told me that she would pull my information from my reservation card and assured me that she "would get right on this" and also that I would "be taken care of".  "Taken Care Of"   hmmmmmm I asked her just what did that mean.  She said that she would "probably" be sending me a voucher for a 3 nights stay at the Grand Hotel in Pigeon Forge.  Well the Grand Hotel is okay.  I have stayed there before (years ago) and found it to be more than adequate.  I told her that would be great and that I would really appreciate that. 

So now the question arises - will she do it?  Will she do anything? We shall see....we shall see.

Ryan's birthday is Aug 20 - he wants to stay in PF again so if we could get the voucher for the 19, 20 and 21 of August - wow - that would be a blast huh?

More later - probably today - if no.....

Peace

IT'S MONDAY - AFTER THE WEEKEND FROM "MOTEL HELL"

Okay - we ended up going up to Pigeon Forge on Friday night instead of waiting until Saturday.  I called the motel and they said "sure - we can even give you the room tonight that you would be getting tomorrow so you won't have to move"......how kind of them.

First of all - when I made the reservation I specifically asked for a "ground floor" room, or if they had an elevator - it wouldn't matter.  I also specifically asked for a "non smoking" room.

We were given room 305 - that's right - 3rd floor - NO elevator.  The room did not have the little plaque on it saying "non smoking room" so I asked -- and was told they had "recently coverted some of their smoking rooms to non-smoking" and yep 305 was a convert.  So it took me a good 10 minutes to drag my bag up the 3 flights of stairs (Ryan went ahead with his TV and his bag.  We open the door - it's very HOT in the room and the first thing I see is AN ASHTRAY ON THE BUREAU.....man this is really a "new" convert room huh.  The little vents on the air conditioner were all broken off to the air goes straight up - can't direct it anywhere.  The carpet is filthy - really bad - if you walk on it barefoot - your foot is "sticky"  oh yuck.  We get 12 - count em' 12 television channels - none of them good - not even a local chanel that I could find.  AND the security of the door was sorely lacking - I took my Kroger card and opened it without a key - made me feel SO secure leaving my things there.

Now if they had not insisted that I pay for all three nights (they are not fools) at check-in - we would have left.  But I was an idiot and payed cash so we were stuck - literally - to this room.

The toilet wouldn't flush unless you held the handle down and counted to 10 - then you spend the next 5 minutes "jiggeling the handle" so that it would fill back up - oh joy - oh rapture.

We had to buy batteries for the TV remote - it wouldn't work without them.

There was no parking designated for disabled people and on Saturday night I had to park "by the river" and hike back to my room.  After a full day of working.  I was tired - and pissed.

On Sunday, Ryan stayed at the motel while I went to work.  I called him to check on him.  the first two times I called him - there was no answer in the room - okay - a little bit of worry, but maybe he was in the bathroom.  When I called the 3rd time, and this is where you call the front desk and they "connect you" to the room, Ryan answered.  I asked him where he had been - he said right there - I said did the phone ring earlier - NO IT DIDN'T - THEY CONNECTED ME TO THE WRONG ROOM!! 

So today as I was leaving DW from my award breakfast, I called to let Ryan know I was on the way - I called and asked for "Room 305" and the guy said "we don't have a room number like that" - WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 3 NIGHTS JACK - JUST CONNECT ME OKAY? 

I was loosing it by that point and yes, I'm going to complain - won't do any good I'm sure but I will give it a whirl.

My friend Mark at the Rampage told me my journal was depressing and I promised him I'd write a "happy entry" - just wait Mark - it's coming - I promise.

Ah..... I feel better now.

Peace