Kuhl's list

things that bug me

-people who take too many words to say something simple to make themselves feel important

-people who smile with their mouth but not their eyes

-people who don't know how to control their barking dogs and who always say "oh he wouldn't hurt anyone" 

-my ugly toenails

-meetings that take too long

-people who ask what it's like to grow up in such a large family -I don't know the difference!

-mice-ick

things I like

-my husband tucking me in

-my husband asking for advice on skin care

-shopping for bargains!!! Finding an Hermes tie for a dime!

-being the "cool aunt" to my adorable nieces

-writing about travel

-talking about my master's degree in science on any and all occassions (since I am a science idot and the masters is in organizational communication)

-Looking forward to vacations

my husband making me laugh so hard my stomach hurts

A working fool

Bella says this is a blog so I will trust her. I'm 51 (gulp) and have been working since I was 15. My first job was working for the local Catholic diocese mimographing copies of aborted fetuses-honest. I tried not to look. Then in high school I fell in lust with a boy from Waterloo and called him-a lot. In those days long distance calls were expensive and when my mom found out she made me get a job to pay it off. I was a waitress at one of the fancy restuarants in town and learned I better got to college because I would suck at service. Every night after work my co-worker and high school classmate and I went to International House of Pancakes and packed on the pounds. I was always mystified how she got big tips-may have had something to do with not daydreaming. Of course there was always babysitting along the way and I got my charges to answer "Who's your favorite babysitter?" "You are!" It was probably the Ralph the Mouse stories I made up-if only I had written them down. Then I found a new local boyfriend and my cousin and sisters had to babysit -unfortunately the kids complained and asked for me but as my cuz Barb said, "Ruthie has a boyfriend now so get used to it!" In college I had a brief stint at an ice-cream store until I got caught giving away the product to my new boyfriend (hmmm-is there a pattern here with boys getting me in trouble?) But he turned out to get me a dream job-working at the College box office. We were paid well and got free tickets to great concerts. In the summers I made more money though as janitor where I met the elderly African American women who were pros working all year round-they told me a great story about meeting activists in the 60's who blew up toilets. They were not pleased. I wish I could say my jobs got easier but it took awhile-from the "glamour of Tv and radio news" ie-did not pay well to public relations which did compensate. I am now tired of working. I have never had more than a month off at a time-I know moms say taking care of kids is harder than working at a job but gee some days I wish I had that opportunity.