Jan 04
Super Chargers!
Oh San Diego Chargers, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
1. Philip Rivers Oh what a quarterback! You can't run worth ten cents, but you are nice to look at and not afraid to speak your mind. And hey, rated #1 in the NFL? Not bad, my man. Not bad at all!
2. LaDainian Tomlinson You are a superstar. You are an all time great. You will be in the hall of fame. And even if you're getting older and may not be with the Bolts next year, you are still awesome for what you have done and will do in the future.
3. Shawne Merriman No one else can have a tattoo of a light switch and make it work. You are the hardest hitter in the NFL and every qb fears your comeback next year. Puh-lease stay with San Diego! Either way, I hope you knee gets better, Lights.
4. Darren Sproles Little big man! Dude, you make us 5'6"-ers look good! You can get through any defense with ease. You are the speediest in the League. And you're just so darn cute! Thanks for winning the first playoff game for us, my man! Stay with the Bolts next year and I'll buy your jersey. Promise!
5. Igor Olshansky I would not want to be on the receiving end of one of your tackles. You're awesome, but also freaking scary. That's all I have to say.
6. Shaun Phillips You support kids in San Diego in reading and sports and after school programs! And you are the bomb at sacks. And you are a snazzy dresser!
I can also say Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie, Antonio Gates, Antoine Cason, Luis Castillo, Stephen Cooper (Coop!), and Craig "Buster" Davis. But I am tired from my adrenaline finally giving out after that great game. So great!
I love you guys. Omg.
Dec 03
Tis the Season!
I love Christmastime. It's the most wonderful time of the year, with the slight exception of the cold weather. But I'll tolerate that because everything else about Christmas more than makes up for it. Need some examples?
Anne's list of why Christmas is awesome:
1. Peppermint.
Candy canes are so delicious! And you can just hold them so easily and eat them and it's totaly fun because they're not shaped like regular lollipops or other candies. Also, peppermint begins to show up in other foods! Peppermint ice cream is one of my most favorite things ever. Because it's ice cream, which is the most wonderful invention on the face of the planet, and then you throw in little pieces on candy cane and red swirls of goodness? Um, heaven! Oh and if you haven't tried a peppermint mocha yet from Starbucks (yes, Bux. Not because it's my fav coffee house because it's not, but because 5 cents from each mocha drink goes to (RED) to save lives) why not? Peppermint mochas rule, and you cannot tell me otherwise.
2. Christmas Music.
Now now, don't start groaning. I'm not talking about Elvis singing Blue Christmas or Burl Ives singing Frosty or whatever. Although those classics are great too. But I love it when modern day artists come out with new and original Christmas songs, or even remake older ones. It's like an excuse to hear new music every year from your favorite singers and bands! Here are some of my favorites:
Old Borego by Switchfoot is a San Diego Christmas carol. Because Borego is our desert.
Last Christmas by Jimmy Eat World is gorgeous, and one of my favorites the last few years.
2000 Miles by Coldplay makes me want to curl up by the fire with a cup of cocoa. Or a peppermint mocha omg!
Forget December by Something Corporate because let's face it, the kids from SoCo are kinda hot. lol
3. Consumerism.
Yes, I said it. The one thing that everybody claims to hate about Christmas. I was talking about the recent election with a friend of mine a while ago, and he said that the problem with W. is that he is a capitalist pig. And I responded, "But I'm a capitalist pig too!"
Politics aside, let's face the facts. This country needs an "economic stimulus," and not the type that comes in a US Treasury check in the mail. People need to get out and spend some cash to keep things rolling. So a little Christmas consumerism might help some businesses out a bit. Take my stores for example. We had a terrible November to be perfectly honest. Just awful. Now in December, retail shipping stores do 13% - 45% of their business for the entire year. So while we'll still have to budget and all that, people buying stuff and shipping it to their loved ones will help us get out of some of our November debt.
4. Mistletoe.
Yup. Do I really need top explain this one?
5. Cheer.
Is it just me or does every company seem to support charities in December? Toys for Tots, Good Will, etc etc etc. I hear those Santas that ring the bells outside of supermarkets are even taking credit and debit cards this year.
Of course, we shood be taking care fo the sick, poor, and needy all year long. But after Thanksgiving, maybe people start to think about how lucky they really are to have all that they do. And maybe they start to think about people who aren't as fortunate. I mean, hey, even Scrooge was touched by Tiny Tim's poverty and sickness and decided to help out.
My stores are supporting the new(ish) Toys for Tots Literacy Program, where a dollar will put a book in the hands of a needy child. Did you know that 33% of 4th graders can't read, even at a basic level? Giving them books instead of just toys might help to break the cycle of poverty in at least a few families and help the kids to earn better lives than what they were given to begin with.
Nov 09
Wedding Ring Blues
This is a sad story. For reals!
Ok, so last weekend I went to a halloween party. I dressed up as a waitress and looked totally cute, if I do say so myself. I have a modestly cut black dress with white poka dots and big white buttons up the front. It's so waitress style. So I paired it with an apron that I borrowed from a friend of mine who's actually a waiter, complete with a notepad and straws and all that.
So my friend and I get to the party, which was at my sister's house, and we're hanging out. Immediatly this guy comes up to us and offers us a beer. Sure! So he leads us to one of the kegs and pumps it for us. Nice guy, right? Ok, so I've never ever gotten my own beer straight from a keg. So the guy had to tell me to tilt my cup and all that. Still, nice guy! He even compliments my costume.
So me, my sis, and my friend are all hanging out with this guy, and I keep hinting that he and my sister should hook up. Because he was cute, worked at a brewery, and rides bikes. Those are her stipulations with guys. I know, I know. Anyway!
The guy asks me to hold his cup for him while he pumps some beer for himself. Sure! So I tilt the cup as instructed, but I'm holding it with my left hand this time. And suddenly he's no longer as talkative. Suddenly he goes, "So where's your hubby?"
"Working," I said.
"Oh, he should be here drinking beer!" he says. I agree. And that's the last thing he says to me ALL NIGHT.
Yeah, really. He talks to my sister. He talks to my friend. He talks to my sister's male and female roommates. Not one more word to me, even though I'm standing right there.
Ok, I think to myself. Whatevs. He's just here to hook up. Fine.
So I sit down next to someone else. This guy is super nice. Turns out he's a video game designer and loves cars. Great! My car just broke down and I need an new one! Let's talk about cars! So we did for like, ten straight minutes. Until...
DUDE GETS A CALL FROM HIS FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. They say, "Dude, she's married! Don't waste your time!"
And he's nice, so he's like, "Yeah, I know, but we're just talking."
And his friends are all, "No, get over here with the single chicks!"
So he actually tells me this, and then splits. He apologized though, and said we could talk later, but we never did. I didn't really expect us to. And I never got to compliment him on his shirt that said BFG on it.
I won't keep going into detail, but that's actually and truly how my entire night went. I start talking to someone (mostly dudes, because it was almost all dudes at the party) and they hear/see that I'm married and run for the hills! It was so depressing.
Really, do guys just go to these partys to get some action and not to just hang out and have fun? I'm a nice person, and I'm fun to talk to. And I have interesting things to say and knowledge in a lot of areas! But these guys were acting like if they couldn't get into my pants (or dress, whatever) I wasn't worth their time. Talk about a confidence bringer-downer!
Is that a word?
Anyway. In the end I'm soooooo glad I married a nice guy and don't have to actually be concerned with impressing these pigs. I'm of the firm belief that not all guys think about sex non stop, but somehow every one at the party proved me wrong that night.
Whatevs. Whatevs to all of them!
Aug 27
Changing lives... one customer at a time!
I'm working alone today, which is nothing new for me. But it's going on 11:00 and I've had an active morning already!
I was helping customers on and off for a bit until this woman called to scream at me. Apparantly one of my stores shipped two packages for her that never got to their destination. She yelled and yelled, and I finally was able to get her to get off the phone so I could track the packages and find out where they were. Turns out she gave us the wrong address and they are on their way back to me.
So I called her and told her that. Which she was having none of, let me tell you. Of course it's all my fault, and even though it's the wrong address, it's a big company and UPS should know that they moved.
Ok.
So I tell her when the packages get back I'll reship them on our dime to the right address. That's not really good enough for this woman, but she has no choice, so she agreed after yelling some more.
While I was trying to get off the phone, a customer came in. He was a pleasant man with an easy smile that made me feel more relaxed immediatly. He had to have a document notarized. I apologized for making him wait, blushing because I knew he could hear the woman screaming at me through the phone. He just told me that it was fine, and it was good that I was taking care of an unhappy customer.
I love doing notaries because it gives me a chance to chat with the customer. So we're making small talk and I was just finishing up when the phone rings. The woman was calling me back! I apologized again to my in store customer. When I answered the phone the woman told me that I need to call UPS and speak to the driver that tried to deliver the package to the wrong address and tell him that next time he'd better get it right.
Yeah.
So I rang up the customer I had in the store while getting yelled at (no need to make him wait around because of this angry chick). But he waited in the store until I was done with her. And you know what? I'm really glad he did.
After I got off the phone, he said, "You know, you have a very unique opportunity standing across this counter. You get to make a difference in the lives of every person who comes in those doors or calls on the phone. Do you know why people were put on earth?"
How am I supposed to respond to that? I stood there blinking for a few seconds, looking like an idiot, I'm sure. "That's a loaded question," I finally said with a small laugh, feeling totally lame.
"To make a contribution," my customer finished. "Just your nice smile and friendly attitude can make someone's day better when they come in this store. You should remember that."
I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. What a nice man! "Thank you," I said. "I really needed to hear that."
He left then, and as he was walking out the door he waved and said, "Thanks for letting me make a contribution in your life."
Wow. I want to be like THAT guy.
A few days ago I was talking with my husband. I said that I always thought that I choose a career that directly affects people's lives. A nurse, a vet, an animal rehabilitator, etc. Could it be that I can make people's lives better, even slightly, even briefly, by just being myself? No matter what my job of choice is?
Well, you can bet I'm going to try.
Aug 02
Where the heck am I living???
Anne Bonny
1234 OutInTheBoonies Rd
Way in the County, CA 92082
While I've always had an appreciation for all things rustic, I admit I am something of a city girl. Doesn't mean I'm afraid to get dirty, but I like the mall and neighbors and all of that. My husband and I moved to a little town called Fallbrook in January from a city and boy has it been a culture shock.
Fallbrook is beautiful. The houses are spread out and have character. The trees are huge. And it's nickname is "The Friendly Village." Boy is that appropriate. People actually wave to you as you walk down the street! People you don't even know! You can be eating at a restaurant and the person at the table next to you will lean over and say, "Hey, how's the soup? I was thinking of ordering it too. By the way, I'm so-and-so" and then you'll talk to them for 20 minutes. While I guess that's not odd in some places in the world, let me tell you, that's not how we do things in California. So slowing down and having room to streach out has been such a blessing. For that, I love this town.
But with the good comes the bad. We rent a home with 6 1/2 acres on it. Awesome, right? I have room for my horse and the dogs and all that. And the view is incredible. It overlooks a canyon, and even the hill beyond has like two other houses on it.
Can you see where I'm going with this? This is the part where I start to get all girlie. Ready?
There's like... wildlife here.
At first, this is thrilling. I'm a birdwatcher (as I'm sure you know) so a bald eagle flying over my backyard or an egret fishing in my koi pont (while not encouraged) is awesome.
But there are coyotes too. And they howl at night on the hill behind my bedroom window, and you can tell when they've caught something and are celebrating, because they are all frenzied sounding. That's fairly creepy. I'm careful with my pets, esp my two cats, but apparantly my neighbors aren't. I see new signs almost everyday for missing cats and small dogs. There was a story in the paper the other day about a man checking his mail in the afternoon with his maltese and a coyote walked up and snatched the poor dog right there in broad daylight! My horse's pen is at the bottom of a hill and I have to walk down a path to feed him. This is especially creepy during the winter, when it's dark when I get home. I've seen coyotes cross the path right in front of me.
I had a thread about my rattlesnake encounter. That was freaky, to say the least. The thing was huge and fat, and I still cannot even believe how lucky I am to have not stepped on it. My foot was right over it.
So a few days ago I'm taking the dogs for a walk and what do I see in the street in front of me? (Yeah, the street. We don't have sidewalks.) A tarantula. A freaking tarantula. It was all black and hairy and probably about as big as the palm of my hand. Of course, my husband gets all close to it (because he didn't learn from the rattlesnake) and is examining it from inches away. He took pictures, but I won't post them because I don't want to look at them. And it started walking! Just a tarantula, strolling down the street. It was so gross. All those legs! Ew.
So, if one of these days I suddenly sign off and never come back, it's probably because I got eaten by a bear or something while on a walk. I'm living in the middle of a forest, I swear.
Jul 15
Stale Cheez-Its
Honestly, I don't have much to blog about, but everybody else is blogging, so I don't want to be the one who's left out!
So here I am at work, alone, for 10 hours, in a new store that no one realizes is open yet. Oh yes, my life is that exciting! Don't be jealous! And, to add to the excitement... my snack of Cheez-Its is slightly stale! OMG!
But I do have a Diet Coke, so it's actually not so bad. I love Diet Coke. Like, I don't think they ever stopped making it with cocaine because I'm a serious addict.
Went to a wedding this weekend for a friend I've known since third grade. It was lots of fun, and the best part was my parents totally cutting a rug. They're dancing fools, I tell you. I had a cute dress too. And after that my sister and I went to her fave bar out in the OC which was a blast. It's always fun to kick back with a few beers and people watch. And in the wee hours of the morning the characters really come out.
Eric Chavez came into my work again today to ship something. He plays for the Oakland A's and is very nice and totally hot. *giggle* Last time he came in I didn't know who he was. He bought a sharpie and signed a bat that he brought with him, and then wanted to ship it to a friend. I asked him to fill out a shipping order and tried to casually take the bat to the back of the store under the pretense of finding a box for it. Instead though, I whispered to my husband (who works with me), "Is this guy famous?" He stared at me and was like, "Yeah, he's an All Star and Golden Glove winner." As if I know what that means. But anyway, it was kind of exciting to have a famous ball player give me money.
Nothing else to report, but if I get any other famous peeps in my store I'll be sure to report it. As for now, it's back to my Diet Coke and less-than-satisfying Cheez-Its.
 2:18 PM Jan 7
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