My Inspiration

I called a company today to discuss a client renewal premium. While on hold the song "You're my Inspiration" happen to play on their hold music. I love Chicago and the songs they sing. I was singing along and realized that not once have I ever given thought to anyone or anything being my inspiration in life.

Many kids in school are asked to write an essay at some point as as assignment asking "Who inspires you?" I watch Ugly Betty without missing an episode. Yes I read her blog on their website (http://forums.abc.go.com/binspiredblog). I use to feel how Betty used to dress. Confused, mixed thoughts, didn't know where my life would go. Just the other day, I was thinking to myself and I realized that I never thought I would have a career so to say.

My first job was at McDonalds, making $3.25 an hour and going to high school. I worked for McD's for about 5 years, worked for Ace Cash Express, Print shop, North Texas Food Bank, Albertsons, Sears Portrait Studio, Construction, Fiesta, Cocktail waitress, office manager and Insurance agent.

Insurance is the one that stuck without looking for it. I just happen to pick up on it, researched, learned, and appreciated the fact that I worked with helping people understand a very important product to protect their investments in their lives.

During all the jobs I've had, I raised three children. At times I worked two jobs. I have been blessed for the past 15 years I have only had to work one job to make ends meet while raising my children. There were some very rough bumps along that road. But I made it and I admit there were several people who I have to thank that reached out a hand to help me cross those bumps. My sisters are two of them. One more than the other (not afraid to say it). Three sisters, I'm the middle. Daniela, my older sister helped by putting up with my kids while I worked. Of course mom taught me that if I could pay a total stranger to watch my kids then I could pay family, so I paid my sister and mother to babysit my children while I worked. She loved them in her own strange ways. Victoria was her Monkey LOL, I can't quite remember what she use to call Gabriel or Michael.

Mom of course was always there to lend a helping hand. But Mom and Daniela did inspire me. The fact that they didn't make it easy for me by watching my children as a 'favor' or mom didn't let me live in her apartment rent free is inspiration enough to make myself say "I can do this".

I see Ugly Betty and it inspires me as well. That no matter what people think of you or say, do you own thing. As long as you are happy with yourself then the heck with everyone else. :P Mom use to say the same thing but I never did listen but seeing it with my own eyes it hit me. Betty dresses to her liking not everyone elses, she does what she likes and eats what she likes.

Revisiting......

a place that I rather not but I know there will probably be other times like this one. I accompanied Al to Gonzalez funeral home on Saturday. One of his cousins that lived in St Louis, MO. was shot to death and his body was brought to Dallas for family and friends to attend a memorial before they were to take him back home to Durango Mexico.

Mr. Octavio Contreras was only 33 years old when he was fatally shot by a 17 yr old girl. Motive unknown at time of my blogging, only good thing is that with the help of the survellance cameras, they caught her and arrested her on a $1 million dollar bond. Charged with 1st degree murder. May he rest in peace knowing she was caught and may his mother and father have some kind of peace of mind as well.

I have never lost a loved one to a senseless death, as of yet. Anyone that has passed that I have known or is family have died of natural causes.

Saturday we found out his body would be at Gonzalez til four in the afternoon instead of Monday as previously planned. So we headed over. As we drove, all I could think about was Mom. In my head I could hear her say it's ok don't worry you will be fine, just be there for him. I prayed as we entered the funeral home, which was completely full of family and friends for this young man. About 200 people showed to pay respect to him and his family. I prayed that his body would be in the room opposite from where mom's was. But it wasn't. I walked into the room right behind Al and a picture flashed in front of my eyes. A picture of the day my mother was there laying at rest, very peaceful. The day that my sisters and I were mourning the loss of our mother and greeting family and friends as they arrived. But as that picture flashed before my eyes I also felt a very light pat on my back and faint whisper "it's ok mija". I had a tear rolling down my face not for my mother but for Al and his family of cousins.

I have been praying for this young man's family for a while now, back about 2 mths ago this young man's brother was brutally beaten by eight men who left him for dead. He recovered and has pulled through but just as he has almost completely recovered his brother was shot. We can't ask why just wonder.

Don't let me see you

Last night me and my son, Michael stopped at a Valero to put gas in my truck, as we are entering the store I noticed 4 boys walking towards the station as well. When they walked in I noticed one stood real close to me, the other three stood close by the door and down the first aisle. I took my little wallet I carry around my neck/shoulder and removed it to the other side of me. I wasn't waiting in line, I was waiting for my son who happen to be at the counter.

Now I don't automatically assume someone is going to do bad just by looking at them but I had this weird feeling inside me. So I stepped outside walking between two of the boys. Once of them had a couple of packages of T-shirts in his hand from the Dollar Gen store and another had a box of Little Debbie snacks, opened.

I went and stood next to my truck and got my keys out in my hand. As I watched one cmoe out the store, I could tell he was holding something. Sure enough when he slightly turned my way he was hold a 1/2 gal of ice cream in front of him with two hands as to where no one would see him. I walked right over and told him to 'take that back right now!' He turned and said 'ok' started to hand it to me and then just took off with ice cream in hand. You little Shit! I yelled after him, "that's ok, I know where you live, I'll be by in a bit with the cops!" OF course I didn't know where he lives but I thought maybe, just maybe that might scare him into coming back.

Anyway, I went straight into the store and told the clerk to call the police and what happen and I told his friends that they needed to stay put til the police arrived. They all three started with "why is it on us, we didn't do it?" I said "well because you are all with him and know him and all came in together" I held the door so one couldn't leave and he looked at me, I wished he had tried something. I let the door go and they left walking off, I yelled at them and told them that if they leave they are just as responsible as the one that took the ice cream. Called the cops gave my info, and description, got in my truck and hell yeah I went to looking. Stopped 4 boys who were walking away from Albertson's just to make sure that wasn't them, told them that if the police stop them to let them know a lady in a suburban has already stopped them and that they are not the group. Came across the police going up and down the streets and asked me questions and took off in one direction and I took off in another looking for these little thugs.

Don't let me see them because I will beat the hell out of them, sit on their ass til the police arrive. I also found out they attend NMHS Don't let me see them!

head is spinning

i'm so confused at the present with my own relationship, my children, my family overall. I pray every morning, then when i get home i sit in my room and pray again and talk to mom about everything. I know that everyone deserves chances at anything and everything but my question is how many do you give in order to not regret later in life not giving that one extra chance. How do you know someone won't change if you don't give them that one more chance to show they can or at least try. I've always made my decisions with the regret factor in mind and of course talking it out between me and mom and at times with some prayer. But this time around for some odd reason my prayer hasn't been answered quite as fast as other times. A sign or something that will lead me in the right direction. I just don't know which way to go on some things that are coming my way at this moment in my life, it's like I'm at a 4-way stop and dont' know which direction to take. I guess this time around my patience is being tested and I just have to keep looking for the sign that says which way to go.

Country Folk

Working out in the country has made me open my eyes. I eat lunch at several different area restaurants and visit the gas stations and convenience stores and not once have I ever been treated less than friendly.

I have come to realize that my dream of living in the country is even more important to me than ever. When I compare the city restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores I see that the city locations are all too busy to attend to you or carry their personal problems with them or have attitudes I just don't care to deal with. In the country and by this I mean Rockwall, TX, everyone says good morning, hello, how is your day going. I visit a gas station every morning to get my daily paper and the young man there knows me by name now and knows what I like to drink, read and eat. My usual routine is a DMN paper, Dr Pepper or Big Red, and a $5 lottery scratch off. He'll point out the new ones and also will comment if I don't get anything but a paper things like, No DP today? or Got some big red's on ice for you. I love the way I'm treated!

As much as I have complained in the city stores I patronize, I have yet to complain in any store here since I started my employment in the area.

the Country is for me!

Quiet

It's been so quiet at home. My two grown boys have moved out and now have their families and my daughter is spending a month with her dad. So now at home is ME. Well, Al stays there (when i feel like it). Yesterday i got home cleaned, what my daughter and son left behind of a mess. I'm taking it slow to clean my house. Decided I would get some McD's for dinner, sat down to watch SYTYCD and the news had weather reports going, severe storms in area for an hour. :(

Erica has moved in but she's not home much. Sabrina will be moving in in about another week. So in the meantime, I'm chilling at home with the entire place to myself. Is this what it feels like to live the single life?

ECW, WWE, RAW

Well Vica rec'd her TAKS test results for the reading portion and she missed it by two for a perfect score. So I treated her to a night of wrestling at American Airlines Center. We had awesome seats and perfect view of everything. She got to see Jeff Hardy who is one of her favorites, Big Show, John Cena, Mr. McMahon, Triple H. We had so much fun. I'm glad we were able to get tickets. All day yesterday I was searching and searching and nothing. So I said the hell with it, I'll just go to the box office and see if they have any left and Bingo! Got 4 tickets at what I consider the 50 yard line. :)

Bio Essentials by Kay

I did some web surfing for some info on this Bio Essentials by Kay that I'm going to sell at my booth next Sunday and here is what I found.

https://www.kaycasperson.com/cart.php

The bag I have put together is valued at $114 for only the Body Wash, Revitalizing Serum, Masque if you were to purchase it from the website. Seeing as I came across this at a very low cost to me i can pass it on with trendmendous savings to you.

A small gift bag with a Hair Gel included will only cost $15.00!!

BAZAAR 3/29/2009

Ok everyone that knows me, mark your calendar. I am going to join my cousins, John & Jacque, at a bazaar on March 29th at St Edwards in East Dallas on Elm Street to sell stuff and have I got some good stuff.

Professional Steam Irons only $13 or 2 for $20
Mini Steam Irons only $5.00!!
Professional Portable Steam Cleaners $12 or 2 for $20
Beauty Bag - Bio by Kay for only $15 or 2 for $25.00
includes: 1 -Body wash, 1-mask, 1-revitalizing serum, 1 hair gel
I have name brand health and beauty aids, shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, alum foil, air freshners, candles. Hope you come out and see us!!

Other exciting news!!

My niece, Nathalie, made North Mesquite Pacesetters!!!! I am so proud of her and I know that her mom and other aunts are just as proud.

Rapping Flight Attendant

Southwest Airlines has been known to do some very weird things and fun at the same time and this video goes to prove that.

What an awesome way to make everyone feel comfortable and he hit everything that needed to be told to the passengers.

That new window

Well as the saying goes, when one window closes another will open. And man I smell the fresh air. The fresh air of not having to worry that a client will want to file a complaint or sue the agency I worked for for unethical practices. You know I tried to tell Randa about sending checks on time and how that can come back but people who care only about themselves usually don't listen. Well, all I can do is pray that her agency doesn't suffer. I pray for her too. She tries to tell people how wonderful she is to her employees and really she is but only when it's a convenience to her. Funny how I have been lookin back and when I requested time or it came up that my mother was in the hospital it always seemed to bother her. She always asked well what about your sisters? Well, yeah what about them? I don't care if I have two sisters, I'm me and me wants to tend to my mother.

And when I said to myself that one day Randa will bad mouthed me because she feels that I wasn't loyal I was right. Like I said all I can do is pray for her. The only reason she finds people for not being loyal is because she can't be loyal herself without having to bring it up to people's faces about how "loyal" she is. She is such an insecure person. You know my mother told me once that when people start accusing you it's usually because they are the ones that are like that or doing.

All they cared about was "Well, we can't give you a good recommendation" well I don't need one because all you can say is "no" she wouldn't be rehired. Well, that doesn't say much....DOH.

Me and my Lord know how I performed while i was at that office and how I serviced her clients. That's all that matters.

Alcohol....

What is it about alcohol? What makes people think that this will take your pain away, when they know damn good and well it just makes you forget about the pain for a bit of time but no sooner you stop drinking and you come to your senses, your pain comes back to you full force if not harder.

You know Brad Paisley sang about it and I listen to the words and yes it does make people react differently, but I mean seriously what the hell are people thinking? I don't mind socail drinking and whatnot BUT to drink your ass off because someone you cared for has pass away? NOT!

You couldn't guarantee me the Texas Lotto or Powerball to begin drinking.

My lucky weekend

I had the most luck this weekend than I have in all my life, well not counting my babies being born :)

Started Thurs actually when I bought $20 lotter scratch off and won $62. Saturday bought $20 and won $100, took that and bought $35 more pocketed $65 and won another $50. Well yesterday me and Al headed to Choctaw Casino and I took a whopping $120 to spend and lose, in my mind right. So we arrived at 5pm and by the time I left at 1a.m. I was heading home with $1500 in my pocket!!!!! OMGatos, I couldn't believe it.

So today I figured, I'm paying all my house bills and paying off my stove. I can say right now I have a big fat ZERO balance due on my water, gas, and light. So I head over the the Chevron and get $100 worth of tickets and only won $60, so I guess my luck ran out at midnight last night. That's ok I'm a very happy person right now.

Money Discussions are OUT!

Ok, well last night Martin came over and I had to do an estimate for Ovalle Concrete, well we completed that and we were discussing how they would pay me for the invoices for this conttract. It was either as we go for each invoice or a lump sum % from the total of the contract (which I prefer). Al is sitting there and all of a sudden speaks up and ask what are you doing for the $xxxx? I said what I always to, invoices, emails, faxes and maintain the books for this contract for the length of the project, could last up to a year. So anyway, he's like for that much! I said yes why? Then he goes into about Martin giving me some money back before christmas. Well, I work for Martin and have been for the last 7 years now. So each time that I create an estimate or invoice or fax or call or email this companies there is a charge and I usually just wait til they receive a check and then he comes and pays me. Well, in my mind I don't owe an explanation to anyone in regards to what kind of money I make or how much someone owes me. I explained this to Al and I also told him that if I do tell him about my finances then it's because I respect him and that's all.

And I let him know in plain and simple spanish under no circumstance are we to have this discussion again PERIOD.

Barely get thru the week....

We had ice on Monday after work, Tuesday morning I tried to come to work but as I hit Ferguson and I-30 it was backed up with accidents and decided to take the Ferguson exit and take side streets. As i exited the vehicle in front of me put his brakes on coming up on the red light and he slid into a complete 360. I said um no I don't think I'll be in today. Luckily, I was far enough behind him that I could catch the right hand turn lane and not chance trying to stop behind him.

So I missed work and enjoyed my day at home. Came back to work on Wednesday and really didnt' feel like coming in today either. This weather just makes me want to curl up with a good movie.

Monday

Well, yesterday I went to therapy and my should is hurting more, so I was to receive a shot of muscle relaxer, :) Got that about 945 /10 am or so and all day nothing, well this morning I can more my arm a bit more higher almost shoulder height.

So I am finding that my body doesn't repsond to medicines as should. Either it makes me drowsy or doesne't kick in til the next morning. LOL

Do my ears decieve me?

I heard on the radio this morning that gas is $1.66 in Irving. I work in Irving! So I anxiously wait til lunch time and look up at gasbuddy.com and YES it is $1.66 / gallon. At the Kroger at 635 on MacArthur. So I head out and I remembered that I have been shopping at Kroger, my Kroger card is on my keyring and so I get my gas for $1.56/gal!!!!!

It's a very good day!

Not a good day

Today was not a good day, I cried and bit my tongue and almost walked out on my job today. Ok, we have a million dollar home client whose policy went up by 25% due to the company have two rate revisions in the past year. This happens to be my boss' cousin. Now mind you I don't treat my clients any differently if they family, friends or whoever. But according to my boss I should have been on top of this policy more than 3 weeks ago, BUT my boss doesn't want me to talk to this insured either. GO figure!

Now we have another client whose policy is in jep due to agency error, yes I said agency error. This policy's premium doesn't compare to the million dollar home but to me they are both equally important. Now my boss lost a client today and calls us into the office to give the "I need my messages" lecture. This happens to lead to the discussion about which policy is priorty. UM YEAH! I walked away when he touched that subject and he's like "are you walking away?" I said NO I'm not but I'm not having this conversation with you either. I'm tired of you doing the who's important and who's not bit!! Then I left for about a 10 min lunch, hell I was too mad to even eat.

Lord please give me the strength to continue this day and prepare me Lord for what comes my way. Amen!

Clearance everywhere

OMGatos! Night before last I stopped at CVS for some personal items and found their Halloween clearance table. Everything was 90% off!! I purchased like 10 lipsticks (red & black), 2 witches hats (very cute), 2 skull signs w/eyes that light, foam bracelet kits, 6 bxs of 6 sidewalk bag lights, 5 9ft pumpkin LED light, 5 of the stuff a pumpkin, spider bags, 15 glo bracelets & necklaces, 2 4ft blow ups of frankie & a ghost, 1 tombstone, 5 jason masks, 1 scream mask, spider ring, goth necklace all for under $20!!!

Then I headed over to Alberstons and they have their stuff on clearance as well. Only 75% but still a good sale, got a few things there too. I figured I'm set for next Halloween to decorate my yard the proper Halloween way! =)

Last night I took mom to the grocery store and I found some good deals at Kroger
3 liter ozarka water .50
powerade .50
carnation milk .50 (free w/my Q)
swiss miss hot choc .50

Hell I made out like a bandit, oh and did I mention I bought 20 tubes of Colgate toothpaste for $1.08? Gotta love it!!