Night and day.

I cannot BELIEVE how quickly the attitudes of people change after Christmas. BC (Before Christmas), the customers were nice, friendly, polite, patient, etc. NOW, however--holy shit. EVERYONE is impatient, rude and grumpy. Either they don't have their receipt and they're pissed because they aren't getting the full amount back that they claim they spent, or they resent having to walk the extra three feet to lingerie to do their returns, or they're upset because the coupon they want to use is expired, or they're irritated that the item they thought was on sale wasn't. Today was the most miserable day of them all. Granted, I dealt with assholes during my waitressing days in college, but I was making a hell of a lot more money, too. But for what I'm making at the JC, it's certainly NOT worth putting up with this crap.

Mind you, I AM PMSing right now, which doesn't help (not to mention the fact that my car is in the shop, receiving **2500** dollars of tranny work)--but it wasn't just me. It's all EVERYONE was talking about in the break room today.

The capper was when this older guy (and not one of those cute old men, either, but one of those jerky old men who just walks around in a perpetual state of asshole-ishness) got mad at me because after waiting in line, he got up to the register and was told that I'm sorry, sir, but returns are being handled in lingerie. He got all huffy and, as he was walking away, he muttered, "It'd be nice if you had some signs."

YOU MUST HAVE MISSED THE BIG ASS NOTICE AT EVERY ENTRANCE TO THE STORE **AND** THE THREE AT EVERY COUNTER.

I whipped around and called out, "We DO, sir." My words were polite but my tone was pretty damn sharp.

I MEAN, F&@*.

I resent being talked to and treated like I'm a fucking moron when I probably have more education than half of those people. And even if the person you're dealing with is a high school drop-out, you still aren't justified in talking down to someone simply because they work in retail, for Crissake.

The only positive part of the day was getting fitted for a bra at Victoria's Secret (still a 38D, even with the weight I've lost) and finding out that yes, "busty" women need padded bras, too. I tried on one of their new seamless bras, and I can't even TELL you the difference it made. I looked GOOD. Once I put my sweater back on, my silhouette was completely transformed. My boobs were perky again! They were closer to my shoulders than my waist again! They were TOGETHER again, rather than heading in opposite directions like some kind of repelling Boob Magnet! It was a magical moment. Mind you, those bras were $50 so I couldn't afford to actually BUY one of them today, but I WILL. I never understood why people would spend so much on a bra when you can get one for like $7.99 at Target, but now I see that some things really are worth splurging on. And, when you're a big-busted woman about to enter her 30s, a good bra is DEFIINTELY one of them.

Christmas "spirits."

I had a really, really good Christmas this year. I expected to be just a TAD bit down, due to being single and all, but as it turns out, I had a blast. Maybe that's 'cuz I was drunk.

Okay, I wasn't DRUNK, but Santa gets one hell of a shout-out this year. Usually, my sisters and I each get one of those big plastic candy canes filled with candy. This year, they were filled with mini bottles of Schnapps. Needless to say, by the time the first carload pulled up around 1 pm, I was already feeling the Christmas spirit, so to speak.

However, that's not the ONLY reason I had such a great time this year. It was just FUN. Highlights included a new cell phone (I haven't had one for like 2 weeks, and trust me, I was hurtin'....it's REALLY COOL. It even has voice recognition! For example, if I hit the call button and say "byatch," it will automatically call my sister) and Nikki's Bathroom in a Box (all the stuff I need for my bathroom once I move into my new apartment--shower curtain and liner, rug, soap dispenser, toothbrush holder and I think something else). I also got a home microderm-abrasion kit (I used it for the first time last night and miraculously, I managed NOT to do serious damage). I also received scented candles, books, etc. (Damn, I can't WAIT to get a "real job" and move into my apartment, where I can light my scented candles in my brand-new bathroom.)

Later in the evening, after a couple carloads of people had left, Nikki, Mis and I all got to sit around, act stupid and laugh our asses off.

Good times. I truly hope that everyone else's day was just as wonderful.

Merry Christmas to all!

And to all a good night.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. We're going to have 18 people here on Christmas Day (and that's just immediate family--my parents, sisters, nieces and nephews and various significant others).

Happy holidays!

Aerosmith was awesome!

At least, that's what I hear. I wouldn't know, since I wasn't there.

Some of you know that I was going to see Aerosmith on Saturday night with my mom. Well, my stepdad ended up not having to work, so I gave him my ticket. I thought it would be nice for the two of them to go out and do something together--plus, as you know from Nikki's blog, he's a big music guy and I knew he'd like it.

Unfortunately, my sister and Nick also got tickets to this same concert. They waited, of course, until the last minute to try to find a babysitter. Once Big Mouth Mom let it slip that I was no longer going, I got the full-court press to watch her kids. Now mind you, I don't just mean, "Hey, can you watch my kids?" (Cuz I said no. Like 4 times. I was either going to stay home and relax, since I had opened that day and was tired as hell, or go to the originally planned Girls' Night.) Katey, who feels that the world owes her a babysitter, kept asking and asking. Nosy Ass Mom got involved, too ("PLEASE watch them"). I finally gave up when Katey got the kids into it, as well (Paige: "Why won't you watch us, Aunt Jenny?").

The kids were still up when they got picked up at 1 am. The two younger ones were still running around like crazy people (mind you, they're 3 and 2. They WOULDN'T SLEEP. It was probably due to the TWO birthday parties we had gone to earlier in the day. They were hopped up on cake and ice cream).

I would have had a quieter, more relaxing night at the rock concert.

Have I become boring?...

...or have all of YOU?

Seriously, why is no one posting anymore? I thought about it during my lunch break today (I really did. I know, I need to get out more) and I think I've realized: this is the period of my life that my psychic told me was coming--the calm, drama-free period in which I could just recharge and reflect. Good for me but sucky for all of you, as no drama equals a pretty dull blog (as many people have noted, I am often quite humorous and entertaining when I'm hearbroken and/or miserable).

I've been busy working and Christmas shopping, with a couple of dates thrown in (when there's something to report, I'll be sure to let you know. So far, not so much). I did, however, recently stumble across the new diet fad that will soon be sweeping the country: Nyquil and cake (no, not together). Late last week I caught the most horrible cold/flu thing, so for three straight days I took Nyquil around the clock, waking up only long enough to eat some cake* and take some more Nyquil. Three days later, I had lost 5 lbs, putting me at a weight not seen since high school.

Forget Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers....I'm going to write a book and make millions. Good thing, too, because that's about as much as I owe Penny's at this point.

* Late birthday cake from my mom

Thank a Soldier Week.

http://www.thankasoldierweek.com/

New Angels' newsletter!

For all you Angels (and Angel enthusiasts) out there, there's a new Soldiers' Angels newsletter up, as of roughly 1 am (that's why I haven't posted a whole lot of new stuff--I've been pretty busy between work and trying to get this latest edition ready to go).

It's at http://sanewsletter.blogspot.com/ . (Check out the article called "Four-legged friendship" under Angels at Work; I thought it was pretty cute.)

Enjoy!

Jen

Thomas is home!!!

As of very early this morning, my adopted soldier, Thomas, is back in the States.

I have no idea what, if anything, will happen with "us" now that he's home, but for right now, all I care about is that he's BACK IN THE USA!!!!!! (I'll start obsessing later, I'm sure.)

I am SO proud of him.

Happy Holiday Season!!!

I am totally into the holiday season this year!

I decorated my house and office. We have some lovely lights up. I'm doing the cards. I'm buying extra presents. I'm listening to Christmas music 24-7. I'm even hosting a holiday cookie swap this weekend.

I love this time of year! How's it going for you?

Skeleton Key--help, please!

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THIS MOVIE BUT PLAN TO, DO **NOT** READ THE COMMENTS OF THIS POST.

To those of you who HAVE seen it--what the hell is up with that ending??? I watched the last few minutes like 5 times and I still don't get it. Please, PLEASE, explain this movie to me.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE, DO NOT READ THESE COMMENTS OR THE ENDING WILL BE GIVEN AWAY.