Opportunities!

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."– Thomas A. Edison

Ha, so this is why I have missed opportunities!!! I don't ever wear overalls. EXCEPT I did wear striped bib overalls when I worked (when Tim was in Jr. High) part-time at a restaurant. Navy blue long sleeve shirts underneath. It was a cute outfit and the restaurant theme was really neat (not hokey and dumb). The name of it was "The Iron Horse." The menus were unique. Each different sandwich or meal was named after some railroad thing. The owner, (my boss and he became our friend) took off on this theme and it was ahead of it's time. It was a fairly upscale place. I loved that job! I didn't know one thing about restaurant work, serving, etc. Or when I was a hostess, I wore my own "dressier type" clothes. I loved getting dressed up and looking my best and it was a good excuse to get new dressy clothes! It was fun. (Of course, I was a LOT younger and a lot cuter then! But what I really enjoyed and loved getting up before the sun (yeah, really then I did) and going to work. I saw each morning's sunrise. Only had seen it on rare occasions when we had some neighborhood parties (Let me tell you those were the days, LOL) (but I wouldn't want to do them over again..) That pt job turned into full time for me and we worked 6 days a week. Only closed on Sundays. My work-mate and BF at the time, & I used to go to the Mall on Sunday.But sadly (for us, -lucky for Dave), we'd be too tired to shop much! I know that's hard to believe for those of you who really know me. Unfortunately, the business went belly-up. Prices were too high and a 50 yr. old restaurant was across the street. We didn't stand a chance. Davenport, IA, was part of the Quad Cities, along the Mississippi River and is a gorgeous area. They run together like one town. So it seemed huge, but Davenport itself is/was/ is about 100, 000 alone. (Mason City, where we are now isn't 30,000), and Clear Lake (where we lived for the first three years we lived "up north (as Dave calls it) is about 7,000. I loved, loved loved being in a small town again!

But oh, gosh, was tun while it lasted. I sometimes think that 3+ years were some o f the very best of my adult life! I could have stayed on with the new owners, but I didn't like them, #1, and #2 we had sold are only 3 yr. old house (the only house we ever built from scratch) that fall. So, that summer was exciting (I couldn't wait to move to Clear Lake, IA- brought me closer to the MN border (& I thought that my sister and I would be able to become closer (she lived in Minneapolis suberb). But, alas that did not happen.) Dave's company opened 3 branch offices that year, one in Mason City, (I PUSHED HARD to come here! I thought it would be a great family adventure. LOL Well, it has in a way. The other branches we could have gone to were one in Cedar Rapids (thank GOD we didn't go there. I hate CR. It stinks-literally, they make cereal, and beans and other nasty smelling things there. It's too big for ME, anyway. (Our son Tim, wife Patti, and Jack and Joey live there, though, but back then they hadn't even met....Tim was in Jr. High, maybe Patti was in grade school. (A little humor there folks, laugh, ) Also, we had a chance to move to Tulsa, OK but didn't go there. My parents were still in Iowa then and in declining health.

Then, we moved to Mason City after Tim graduated and was in the Air Force. We have been in this house 26 years, I think. I started college (Jr. college) in Clear Lake, it was North Iowa Area Community College (located on the eastern end of Mason City, IA. I got my first AA there. Then Dave found this house near his work in Mason City and the price was right. So, end of story. I have never liked it all that much, except we did make some good friends and were active in church here, too. I also worked at a "Country Kitchen" here for a few years. It was a LOT faster pace. But I loved that, too. Most of that was part time because I was also going to college then. I worked when ever I could work it into my school schedule. Just because I loved it, not that it was good for my body. My boss there became (REALLY) a millionaire, and bought several CK's all over. Now, the one here is closed. Jay is the first millionaire, I have ever known personally. He worked just as hard as his employees did. Now he has a little more upscale (but not super fancy) place called "Whiskey Creek." It's a lunch and mainly a SUPPER restaurant. I could write a book about him, and about my experiences there but no one would probably want to read it but me, and MAYBE my family. After that I went my last 2 years (mostly on scholarship) at a private Lutheran College, In '94 I went back to school through NIACC again, and took Medical Technology. (College gets HARDER or at least it did for me, as I got older.) (Or I got dumber~that is possible, too. LOL) By the time I finished that, I was starting to have issues with my back, my feet and then my neck. And so I was not able to do the job I trained to do. As it is all over, a BA, BS, or Bachelors in Applied Sciences, AKA Business) was not enough to get the "pleasant psych. or Social Work jobs I wanted though I did land a couple and worked at them for a stime.

I didn't enjoy being a med. tech. I did love going to school though. And wouldn't change a day of the times I had doing that. The last job I did have was a church secretary. I hated it. I was NOT (so I said then) going to spend my days in front of a computer, for one thing.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."– Thomas A. Edison

Ha, so this is why I have missed opportunities!!! I don't ever wear overalls. EXCEPT I did wear striped bib overalls when I worked (when Tim was in Jr. High) part-time at a restaurant. Navy blue long sleeve shirts underneath. It was a cute outfit and the restaurant theme was really neat (not hokey and dumb). The name of it was "The Iron Horse."
the menus were unique. Each different sandwich or meal was named after some railroad thing. The owner, (my boss and he became our friend) took off on this theme and it was ahead of it's time. It was a fairly upscale place. I loved that job! I didn't know one thing about restaurant work, serving, etc. Or when I was a hostess, I wore my own "dressier type" clothes. I loved getting dressed up and looking my best and it was a good excuse to get new dressy clothes! It was fun. (Of course, I was a LOT younger and a lot cuter then! But what I really enjoyed and loved getting up before the sun (yeah, really then I did) and going to work. I saw each morning's sunrise. Only had seen it on rare occasions when we had some neighborhood parties (Let me tell you those were the days, LOL) (but I wouldn't want to do the party scene again..) That pt job turned into full time for me and we worked 6 days a week. Only closed on Sundays. My work-mate and BF at the time, & I used to go to the Mall on Sunday.But sadly (for us, -lucky for Dave), we'd be too tired to shop much! I know that's hard to believe for those of you who really know me. Unfortunately, the business went belly-up. Prices were too high and a 50 yr. old restaurant was across the street. We didn't stand a chance. Davenport, IA, was part of the Quad Cities, along the Mississippi River and is a gorgeous area. They run together like one town. So it seemed huge, but Davenport itself is/was/ is about 100, 000 alone. (Mason City, where we are now isn't 30,000), and Clear Lake (where we lived for the first three years we lived "up north (as Dave calls it) is about 7,000. loved, loved loved being in a small town again!

But oh, gosh, was tun while it lasted. I sometimes think that 2+ years were some o f the very best of my adult life! I could have stayed on with the new owners, but I didn't like them, #1, and #2 we had sold are only 3 yr. old house (the only house we ever built from scratch) that fall. So, that summer was exciting (I couldn't wait to move to Clear Lake, IA- brought me closer to the MN border (& I thought that my sister and I would be able to become closer (she lived in Minneapolis suberb). But, alas that did not happen.) Dave's company open 3 branch offices that year, one in Mason City, one in Cedar Rapids (thank GOD we didn't go there. I hate CR. It stinks-literally, they make cereal, and beans and other nasty smelling things there. It's too big for ME, anyway. (Our son Tim, wife Patti, and Jack and Joey live there, though, but back then they hadn't even met....Tim was in Jr. High, maybe Patti was in grade school. (A little humor there folks, laugh, ) We moved to Mason City after Tim graduated and was in the service. We have been in this house 26 years, I think. I started college (Jr. college) in Clear Lake, it was North Iowa Area Community College while still in Clear lake. got my first AA there. Then Dave found this house near his work in Mason City and the price was right. So end of story. I have never liked it all that much, except we did make some good friends and were active in church here, too. I also worked at a "Country Kitchen here for a few years. It was a LOT faster pace. But I loved that, too. Some of that was part time because I was also going to school again then. I worked when ever I could work it into my school schedule. Just because I loved it, not that it was good for my body. My boss there became (REALLY) a millionaire, and bought several CK all over. Now, the one here is closed. Jay is the first millionaire, I have ever known personally. He worked just as hard as his employees did. Now he has a little more upscale (but not super fancy) place called "Whiskey Creek." It's a lunch and mainly a SUPPER restaurant. I could write a book about him, and about my experiences there but no one would probably want to read it but me, and my family. After that I went my last 2 years (mostly on scholarship) at a private Lutheran College, less than one hour away. I also took a class or too, from Buena Vista (they use our Jr. College's Campus evenings, but are expensive.) In '94 I went back to school through NIACC again, and took Medical Technology. (College gets HARDER or at least it did for me, as I got older.) By the time I finished that, I was starting to have issues with my back, my feet and then my neck. And so I was not able to do the job I trained to do. As it is all over a BA, BS, or Bachelors in Applied Sciences, AKA Business) was not enough to get the psych jobs I wanted though I did land a couple. I didn't enjoy being a med. tech. I did love going to school though. And wouldn't change a day of the times I had doing that. The last job I did have was a church secretary. I hated it. I was NOT (so I said then) going to spend my days in front of a computer, for one thing. It was also not fun. And your boss is the pastor and the council and that's not a good work/ help situation. Less said about that the better. I had no clue when I started this that I was going to get so LONG. Sooooooooo, I am transferring this to my Blog. I will send it to some of you who may not read my blog or know where it is.

End of it! But Tom Edison was right. The hardest work was (for me at least the work I loved the best. other than being a career college student. I did that job well, too. LOL Laugh! I am kidding, but also that is the truth.

Getting off my soapbox now. Love, and prayers to all of you!
Merry

PS I had jobs before then, office jobs, which I hated with a passion, even though they were easier on my body. I would work to get us out of the red, and QUIT ASAP afterwards. I was not into working until Tim was older,Some people have no choice, but since I did and particularly since we had Tim, I always felt privileged to be able to stay at home until he was older. (Well, that's a laugh on me, I never dreamed I would become addicted to my computer, but I am!) It was also not fun. And your boss is the pastor and the council and that's not a good work/ help situation. Less said about that the better. I had no clue when I started this that I was going to get so LONG. Sooooooooo, I am transferring this to my Blog. I will send it to some of you who may not read my blog or know where it is.

End of it! But Tom Edison was right. The hardest work was (for me at least the work I loved the best. other than being a career college student. I did that job well, too. LOL Laugh! I am kidding, but also that is the truth.

Getting off my "soap-box" now, (finally)!

Love, and prayers to all of you.

Merry
PS I'd love it if you read this on Blogspot if you leave me a comment.
PSS I had jobs before then, office jobs, which I hated with a passion, even though they were easier on my body. I would work to get us out of the red, and QUIT ASAP afterwards. I was not into working until Tim was older,Some people have no choice, but since I did and particularly since we had Tim, I always felt privileged to be able to stay at home until he was older. Today's Mom's don't always have that choice. But I was blessed, though we had periods of struggle, I won't complain, as with most everything in my life, I did it "my way," and I am glad that I could do it. Old age offers us time to refect on our mistakes, but also, with age, comes ACCEPTANCE, and by gosh, finally I think I have that at 65. About time, don't you think?

I Can Hardly Wait 2

My husband Dave will love that one. I printed it out. I am not much into cars, but he is. Boy, bailing out the auto industry isn't something Dave is happy about. He was telling me that the average worker on the assembly lines of GM, and the others is about $75,000 a year!! (I forget what the hourly wage is, but it's out of sight. This is the good old Union boys, which Dave (& I) hate, hate, hate. And don't think they don't have the best medical, eye, and dental health care, too. Plus fat 401K plans and retirement plans. And we are supposed to feel sorry for these guys and bail out the 3 big US auto makers so those "po folks" don't get laid off? Come on, get real. Who looks out for the Bearing Salesmen, and the Journalists & Restaurant workers, (Me), or even Social Workers, (Me) they make peanuts compared to the auto co. employees. Well, I guess that Bush figures if they don't help the big 3 out it will hurt the entire country which is already in a recession (yes, he really said that this AM on TV at his press conference) (Rick Warren is a Fundamentalist Minister). Congress broke last week without settling things. Boy, why am I not surprised that the Democratic majority (Republican minority) all congress went home & left old George to figure out what to do. Heck, people already don't like him.

Well, I may be crazy, but I do. I see a President that hasn't been afraid to take a stand even against the whims of people. A guy who STOOD firm after 9/11, and I don't care, what anyone else thinks, I hope history is kinder to George than what the American public has been. I bet he is champing at the bit to go home to Crawford, Texas. Oh, I guess Laura Bush said on TV that they will be in Dallas half the time for business purposes and the other half of the time in Crawford, Texas. So, if no one else will say it, I will~! Thank you, President Bush, for serving our country. I am proud of the way you have served our country. I only wish more people were. I hope history will be kinder than what American people are to you. And what really gets me is this Rick Warren who Pres. elect Obama picked to do the Invocation at the Inauguration. Wow, here Obama's big promises about supporting same sex marriages and gay rights, are already being broken! If I was one of those people who worked my ass off to campaign for Obama because of all his "promises" for equal rights to the gays, I'd be pretty mad right now.

Promises, oh, why am I not surprised? All he did was make lots of promises and called for change, change, change, and I bet half the time, he didn't even know what he was saying he needed a change for! Yeah, that's what I really think! This is just a taste of what the next 4 years are going to be like. I pray for our country and I should be praying for Obama, but so far I can't. Because, in the end he is lots of hot air. (But I hope he proves me wrong and does a smashing job.)

Oh, and how nice, now out of no where comes Caroline Kennedy and she is wanting to take Hillary Clinton's senate seat. I bet she gets it, too. I have nothing against the woman, but she's spent her entire life staying OUT OF POLITICS, like her Mother tried to do. And now she wants to serve?? I am sure she's smart enough, but I don't think she should get the position just because she is a Kennedy. But wait, poor Teddy isn't doing well, and we must have Kennedy's in office, here comes Camelot all over again.

Boy, didn't I take my meanie pill for today or what? But then I am one of those people who voted for John McCain, and I am not over that yet. President Obama will have to prove himself to me! This is my cents worth. I ranted on so long I am going to copy this and put in my blog!

Renee, you are pretty fair minded, extremely so-- for a person who claims to be a Liberal. xx
Love to ya'all,
Merry

Does anyone have extra Christmas spirt for me?

Hi Everyone!
Okay, hi to anyone who stops by. Bear with me while I get the hang of this!

I need some Christmas spirit and I don't mean the kind you drink, although maybe that wouldn't be so bad. (just kidding) With my illnesses, injuries and 3 months gone by, I have nothing and I do mean nothing done for Christmas. Please don't try to tell me I have a bad attitude because I am aware of that fact. I just don't have the energy to do the things I usually do. Luckily my husband Dave decorates better than me and is a perfectionist about that like I am, too.

Today I had a CAT (LOL)scan and more x-rays at the hospital. I won't get results until next week. But ya know, I said from the very beginning that this was no shoulder injury, but not even the specialists listened to me. Well, it turns out that my family doctor finally got a new report from a different radiologist and he wanted a nodule checked out. I freaked. I do not smoke and don't even allow anyone to smoke in my house ('cuz I can't breathe if they do) but I did smoke for 20 years, we have been off the smokes for 25 years now. But that's always the first thing that comes into your mind with this. I have also had pneumonia about 6 times as a kid and at least that often as an adult and in the hospital always (People I don't do anything without drama, lol). I didn't need to go to PT, I knew it, I knew it. There is nothing wrong with my shoulder. But this nodule could be from the old pneumonia's OR it could be something more serious.

What made this a hassle was the doctor's receptionist scheduled me for Wednesday AM, then didn't tell me. I called her on Wed. AM and she said "Oh, I called you and you were suppose to go today." Don't give me that. I was home ALL day and besides that I have an answering machine. SO, she supposedly rescheduled it and called me back and said it was for 7 AM today. Well, I got up at 4:30 to shower and fix my hair and makeup and all that good stuff and went out in this freezing Iowa weather and guess what? I was NOT on the Radiology schedule for TODAY. She did NOT change it. I don't know if she forgot or what but I am very tired of her attitude. I should mention we use to be sorta friends, went to the same church. Then she switched. When she started working for my doctor she weighed about twice what she does now. She looks great but her personality left when her extra weight did. I don't know what it is but she is hateful to me. It's a power thing. If only I had the nerve or didn't want to take a chance on losing my doctor I would tell Miss Receptionist exactly where to go!

Thank Goodness the Hospital took mercy on me and worked me in anyway. They are just so accommodating in every department I have been sent to. They truly must love their work, because you cannot fake that kind of caring. Now, I do think some doctors do it for the money, but not most hospital employees.

I am so tired. I am thankful that I AM feeling better, but still do have pain in my rib and right armpit which is where this nodule is. And then I looked around and I saw so many people that have so many more problems than me, and it humbled me. When you sit around in hospital gowns and robes, you know you are all the same, no one is judged by the clothes they wear, we are all just people. And it's definitely a neat thing. We talk and laugh, and have a brief camaraderie. I've noticed this where ever I go for tests these last three months. And it's easier to talk to a person somewhere near my age (that means over 50 but not 100), but I've met some nice younger folks, too.

Well, I hope this finds you all doing well and that you are getting ready for Christmas without the last minute stuff I will have to do. You know I'd love to hear from any and all of you new or old to blog spot. I love making new friends!

Many people moved my blog out of kindness from a mass Email I sent out. I was so touched by the thoughtfulness and the kindness of all of you who moved my AOL Journals. So far, this is themain one I've been writing in. I will delete some others or rename them and write about different things. I never know when to shut up so that might be a good way to use all my blogs.

Take care now and if you do post to your blog, please email me at merry1621@aol.com as I don't think I get alerts anymore. Do any of you?
Oh, I have missed you all! And I want to thank those of you who have hung with me through Emailing. You are special folks and I truly feel a kinship with each of you.

Good night! Love you!
Merry
PS You're emails have helped me so much through all this sickness. I have been incredibly lucky in all my life, never had things like this. Getting old stinks. I hate 65 & I hate Medicare but what can I do about it? Well, I loved my life before so hopefully I will again soon. If I had to pick my 10 favorite years they would be from 37-47, though. How about all of you? What are your favorite years?