War, What is it a good for?

I have been interning for the last 9 months at a Adult Day Care center. You might ask why in the world? You must not really have ever spent much time around a group of active, feisty seniors. They are more of a handful than a group of high school seniors. Old women survey the atmosphere like hungry cougars on the prowl. Old men can run your blood pressure up with just a look. One day in group of 65-90 years old is never a repeat of the last. They exhaust me and my 23 years. I had to start taking B vitamins...in case your wondering their are numerous supplements...number in the 100s at your local supermarket. On top of upping my IV of caffeine from two big cups a day to 3 big cups a day.

Up till yesterday I loved every minute of it. Its amazing the challenge and the reward in Social Working them. Essentially this is how it all happened...I looked over at a coworker noticing a occasional sigh, downcast face...etc...and asked, "Hey Monique, You alright?" she preceded to turn to me, give her nicest scowl and give me a lecture on how bad of a human being I was, that she had a very low opinion of me and that I was profiling her and judging her based on her appearance. The lecture ranged from simple to complex forms of insult.

Suffice it to say, that I was a bit surprised. Up until today, I was under the naive assumption that Monique and I were comrades of sorts. Yet, in this world of human frailty I never am failed to be surprised by how often you can anger and miscommunicate without trying. What exactly did I do? In my opinion I was being a friendly coworker, concerned about the low lying body language of a comrade. But to her what nerve exactly did I strike?

Well Cyberspace, Thanks again, for sharing my sorrows and wonders!

Naughty Pleasures!

Who isn't a fan of BBC? I love Blue Planet...Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple...numerous shows of the yester year and a few new. I have a confession to make to all BBC humor fans: I found the Monty Python films very disturbing, and vowed never to watch anymore after the Search for the holy grail. I thought I had put to bed any love I had for BBC humor. I was wrong...I confess I have found a well of humor in FAWLTY TOWERS. I believe it was first aired in 1975 and only aired for a short time ,but its wickedly humorous and terribly naughty.The episodes are not the least bit Politically correct...but I nearly laughed myself into the hospital after the episode "The Wedding Party." John Cleese is spectacular...his legacy shall be remembered forever. It should be illegal to have as much trouble as poor Basil does! Fawlty Towers has redeemed BBC humor and given me the itch for a bit more.Now..I may not go in for Hotel Babylon or the Office, but Fawlty Towers will go down in the Softhearted handbook of hilarium. Any recommendations?

P.S Starbucks has their Gingerbread back! Having soft fresh slices of gingerbread at a coffee house should be illegal...there are probably 400 calories...in one slice. What I would do for a pill that would make those 400 calories disappear with no work...

21st Birthday Plans

Without a doubt your 21st birthday is quite a milestone. Yet isn't every year along the path a milestone. I don't know one person who has turned 17 twice or 32 three times. Each year you reach, you will never reach again except in the depth of your dreams. Introspection leads me to question whether I should be that excited about my 21st birthday. My Mother sweetly asks, "Darling, what would you like to do for your 21st birthday?" My thoughts center on the facts surrounding my birthday I have to be at school the whole day till 6, half my family will be gone 4 days before my birthday, the other half will leave to go on a cruise the day after my birthday. So what I am suppose to plan my own birthday party for them to all enjoy as they stop their busy lives for one hour? Sorry, I don't think so. I'm thinking about sending out invitations with the following inscription "I was born 21 years ago, October 16th 1986, On a day like any other, Thanks Mother, Thanks Father, without you, I would not be, please send any money you would spend on gifts in an Envelope to the charity of your choice" Do you think that would be offensive? I'm a firm believer that the only reason to celebrate is to be the company of Good Company and Good Food, otherwise I always have my new best friends Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo. Who knows I just might set sail with Captain Morgan and never leave dry land....but seriously, just buy me pound of coffee and a jug of Irish cream...who needs anything else. I don't ever want to be drunk and I am not a particular devotee of any liquor cult...My question is why don't we make the 21st milestone be that of a person being old enough to take up a cause or begin to donate blood...this special holiday to celebrate coming of age to consumer liquor...doesn't really appeal to me...any one can drink a beer, but home many of us can say we have donated 20 gallons of blood?

Vacation Time Already....Trust me I am Sure

Schools been in not yet two weeks, but already I was in search of a getaway. Three hundred pages a night, even the first day! Its an outrage, there should be a law against it. In order to save my summer burnt brain, I did the responsible thing....NO I didn't read, I left Thursday night for a long weekend at the coast. Who needs money? I have a credit card. One of my favorite coastal artists Rosi Lusardi is unveiling a new exhibit "In a Different Light" at the Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay. That's a good enough excuse. Rosi Lusardi specializes in fused glass and paper weaving collages they are spectacular! This new exhibit is of masks...replica African masks that are done in brightly colored glasses fused with silver, gold and other sparkling foil papers...they are uniquely remarkable. She is such a small time artist that her most expensive piece was $475. Except for the exhibit the trip turned out to be more of a hassle than school. My hotel was beside the freeway and cars zoomed up and down the freeway all night, and someone had a drinking party next door. Would anyone think I was crazy if I came home early? Wait...is that a Starbucks across the street? Maybe the day is looking up...

Starbuckian

Without a doubt I have an addiction. I fight it daily, starting with the first few drops falling from the coffee pot. The smell of fresh ground coffee sends my tastes buds into a tizzy. With too many cups I will be a bit dizzy. I must watch my intake....yet the devil snared me with a magnificent trap a.k.a. Starbucks. Don't let them fool you, it wasn't God or his court of heavenly angels that devised the plot of a shop where one could obtain both chocolate and coffee in every form imaginable. How is one so very human being suppose to survive when faced with decadent mochas or Chocolate covered coffee beans. If there ever was a sin built to lead the strongest will astray its their perfect blend of chocolate and java. There should be a clinic for those of us who just can't afford 4 dollars a cup....Its bad enough that when the clock strikes ten I am one my walk just down the block to find another cup. I must draw the line when I find myself washing pockets of these choco covered beans and wondering if they are still edible. Between classes...at the end of the day I'm wondering if there is a way to hit Starbucks before I close my eyes. I must confess my problem is quite embarrassing when I pay my credit card and the statement reads Starbucks from top to bottom. A twinge of pride should make me smile when I hear that Starbucks is a fortune five hundred company.Why? I helped them get there. My face turns crimson when I drive to the window and the Barista hands me a cup before I order. This must come to an abrupt end, I have to take a stand and ban this product from my system. As a reward for my virtuous stand I think I might just take a break for an Iced Cafe Orange Cafe Mocha made with Nonfat milk. I will work harder tomorrow.