FOR THE LOVE OF GINGY!!!!!

Most people deal with at least one difficult person in their work environment. It's either a co-worker or a client or whatever. For me, it's a patron. There are a few patrons that drive me bananas. One is my creepy homeless man who likes to stare at me and occasionally hit on me. I can deal with him. There is a lady who secretly tries to get me to do her school papers for her. I'm so onto her, that I can usually avoid that situation as well. But there's one guy who just the sight of him raises my blood pressure. Those of you who know me, know that I have quite a lot of patience and can put up with a lot before wanting to explode on someone. All it took for this guy was 2 minutes and I wanted to strangle him.


We'll call him Ted. Ted likes to come in an "preach" to everyone. He talks and talks and talks about praying to God and how he is a Christian. Then he looks up half naked teenage girls on the internet (usually in Russia or Zimbabwe or anywhere but the U.S.). I'm guessing he doesn't want to show up on To Catch a Predator. Aside from that, he is a HUGE liar. He plays the "poor me" card EVERY single time he is here. If his pipes at home didn't burst, then he can't get on a computer at the right time to talk to his daughter in prison, or he can't talk to his girlfriend on the other side of the planet. Lately, it's his cell phone crashed and he can't download the program to fix it. His pipes are still broken and no plumber will fix them on good faith that he will pay once he gets his tax check. On top of the fact that the city is apparently fining him for painting his living room. Now, I know that I live just outside the city limits, but I am pretty darn sure that my sister didn't need a permit to paint INSIDE her house. And with all the things the city is worried about, I don't think the color inside someone's house is a priority. Just a hunch, but I don't think that even Mayor Moore is that petty.

This man just makes me want to vomit. I really need sound cancellation headphones for work. I promise to only use them when Ted is around. He knows everything about everything. He always has some injury. He recites weather forecasts ALL the time, usually when there is snow involved. However, when the weather man says 10 inches of snow then Ted says we will get 20 inches. He exaggerates just a little bit. All of my co-workers and I try really hard to stay busy when he is around. We try not to ask him how he is doing and get into a conversation because we already know how he is doing.

One minute he will talk about his girlfriend or finding a nice Christian girl to settle down with and within 5 minutes of saying that, he tells another patron that all women cheat and can't be trusted. Hmmmm, not sure he will find his soulmate that way. I know it's not right to judge someone, but is it judging when I can prove that he is a hypocritical liar? He obviously needs attention. I am just not in a place right now to indulge him. Lord forgive me.

Thank you all for letting me vent. I feel much better and can now get back to work.

Much love,
Amber

Blessed

If I had to describe my life in one word, it would be blessed. In two words it would be blessed and humbled.

I have an amazing family and group of friends. This past weekend I was given 2 baby showers. One by my mom and sisters and the other by my girl friends. Both showers were wonderful. I got a ton of cute clothes for my little guy. More on that subject on my other blog: mommarowland.blogspot.com

During my "family" baby shower, my brother-in-law Brad and friends Ryan and Michael came to my house and finished up the nursery for me. They finished painting and then they went and bought chair rail which they then put up as well. I'm sure the whole process went a bit longer then they expected, but the stayed until it was done. And the room looks great! I appreciate everything that was done for me, Justin and baby Ryan this weekend. I am truly blessed to have such great people in my life.

I am also continuously humbled. My brother-in-law Jonathon was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) a couple weeks ago. Since then he has been at the University of Chicago for treatment. His wife Katie is there with him, as well as his mom. Throughout this process I'm sure he and Katie have gone through a million different emotions. Who wouldn't. But the strength and humor they have kept through all of this has been amazing. Jonathon is not much of a complainer. I'm sure he has his moments where he complains to Katie or even his mom and brothers, but overall he is NOT a poor me type of guy. He is probably more worried about inconveniencing the nursing staff then he is about himself. That's just the type of guy he is; always concerned with others and putting himself last (unless it has to do with his favorite video game :) ) Seriously though, he has been amazing since finding out. As much as he doesn't want to be in the hospital, going through treatment, he has taken it all in stride. He does what needs to be done to beat this and come home. I can only hope that if I had to go through anything like he and Katie have gone through, that I would be able to handle it with as much strength and dignity as they have. Seeing how they have dealt with this situation and all the support they have been given, puts a lot of things in perspective for me. It's all in how you handle the things life throws at you. It's your faith in God. Your support network. I am humbled by my family. I am blessed to have each and every one of my immediate and extended family members and friends.

Thank you each and every one of you for being an amazing part of my life.