Movie Weekend

I saw "Just Wright" yesterday. Even though many of the people that I am close to think the story has been done many times before. I like Queen Latifah & love Common, so I had to see it.

I really enjoyed the movie. There was a scene or 2 that made me tear up. I'm sure if you saw the movie you're thinking, huh? I'm pretty sure no one else got teary during those scenes. It happened in the scenes with her father. It made me think of my dad especially in a scene where she and her father were painting. I flashed back to helping my father paint our house one summer.

But personal memories aside if you like 'boy meets girl' movie. This is the movie to see.

Random Thoughts

I watched this past weekend's SNL episode online. Betty was funny, and then some skits weren't so funny.

I have a new favorite website. Not everything is something that I would eat, but the photographers make everything look so appetizing. Well, Looking at a dessert IS calorie free.

Mother's Day was nice & quiet. Sundays are my Friday, so I start catching up on my sleep. My son stopped by after he got off from work & we watched a movie, and ate the fast food that he brought me.

The news is on showing a drunk driver that drove into a house & killed a 14 y.o. who was sleeping in his bed. Her blood alcohol was 2x the legal limit. It happened 2 years ago, sometimes it amazes me how long it takes for cases to get to court. She (the drunk driver) got the maximum which is 15 years. The father says the family forgives her but their son is still dead, and they have to live a new "normal."

This is a crazy weather week/month last week I was sweating at about 10 am when I took the dog for a walk. But this morning I was looking for my sweatshirt, because it was a cool morning. But temperature differences is nothing compared to the flooding in TN & the tornadoes in Oklahoma.

I bought 10 lbs of potatoes Sunday. Yeah, it's still just me in the house, I really only wanted to make some garlic mashed potatoes. But I could have bought 3 potatoes for the same price, so I bought the 10 lb bag. If you are in the Atlanta area & want some potatoes, let me know soon :-).

I'll stop rambling now, and go look up some potato recipes.

Midtown Sights & Sounds

Since I no longer work during the day time & also do not work in Atlanta's downtown/midtown, I was reminiscing about when I did.

On the sunny days that I had maybe 15 minutes left on my lunch hour I would sit outside in front of the building. In the distance I'd hear a whistle blowing...is it a police officer directing traffic? No. Well, who's whistling? It's Atlanta's drum major--Baton Bob! Unfortunately, I didn't find a simple video of him on the streets of Atlanta. But the link to his website has photos; there are some videos of him at festivals.

Except for traffic which I could avoid by riding the train, I miss working IN downtown/midtown Atlanta.

Plant Your Feet & Hold Tight!

I am always amazed that it seems animals have a schedule that they are on daily. I guess you can argue that their schedules may be determined by humans having food, letting domestic pets out etc. When I used to live in Texas I saw cattle head in during the evening hours on my long 70 mile drive home from work. (Yeah 70 miles each way.)

But back to the point that I am meandering to. There is a cat in my neighborhood that must cross my yard at about 5 pm each evening. I know when he is passing from front yard to back yard, because it drives my dog CRAZY. The DOG starts whining, barking & pacing from the front door to the back patio door. He looks through the vertical blinds and he sees the cat so he is pretty frantic at that point.

Yesterday, I decided to check my mail and just take the dog out with me. So with slippers on my feet (at 3 pm) I put the leash on the dog and opened the door. Well I what I didn't know was that the cat has taken to laying in the shade under my car. The doggy realized this immediately and took off after the cat that bolted down the street. Fortunately my reflexes were good enough to let go of said leash rather quickly. Because my feet weren't planted and I could have easily been pulled along face first on the pavement, oh that would have hurt.

So now I have to put on real shoes & go find the dog. I grabbed a treat, I know rewarding the dog for running off is not a good thing. But I needed something to distract him from the cat. By the time I got it together and walked back out to the street, the dog was coming home panting. Great! And since there weren't any cat hairs around his mouth, I must assume the cat got away. LOL

So today when we went out for a walk I was ready just in case the cat was on a different schedule today. My feet were planted & I was holding on tight to the leash.

Weekend at Midway

I had a wonderful extended weekend. My friend & I went to visit her younger brother who was recently transferred to Chicago by his job. He was a great host, and she got to make sure her baby brother was settled. And bought him a few things for his apartment.

I love tulips, and was pleasantly surprised to find that on the Magnificent Mile tulips were in bloom. The colors were so vibrant, and really seem to announce that it is springtime. The tulips last the entire month of May.

We also went to the top of the Sears Tower, yes I know the name has been changed (but we're still calling it by it's formerly known as name.) I wonder if it's less crowded on weekdays. Unfortunately, I only had my phone so I don't have great pictures. The attached photo is one taken while I was in the tower.

Always Thinking about Blogging

I just don't get around to it, and it isn't because I'm not at the computer. Oh well, I'm here now.

Job/Work
I work at night while many people (my earlybird friends) are asleep. On my off days...I am asleep before midnight. I should keep my schedule the same on my off days, but I don't. Ahh the only person that I am killing is myself with that. Get to the point Remnants...

Besides this schedule, one of the things that I hate about my job is also one of the things that I really like. Yes, I am an example of true conflict. Since I work on the weekend, I work alone Saturday & Sunday. Well, there is another dept that is in the building, but I have a whole floor to myself, and the other dept. doesn't have access without without me letting them in. So you can imagine the near heart attacks I've had when someone is in the office unexpectedly. Like the other night when I was arguing with the soda machine and or my wrinkled dollar bill. And suddenly I hear a rustling noise. I freeze to make sure I heard something. (Wouldn't do good in a scary movie. LOL) And one of my co-workers pops out of his cube and asks do I need some change. I'm not sure if I was more embarassed about talking to myself or that he scared me because I thought I was alone. It could have been worse though...his cube is on the way to the ladies room.

Oh the point...yeah, I like the quiet & the ability to work at my own pace during the 1am to 4am hours before my phone starts ringing. But what I hate about it is when something breaks...all hell breaks loose and I have no one to help me. Also in the back of my mind I think that if I am the ONLY one that is scheduled to be there...I should own it. Yeah I have to work on that, because I didn't go back school & finally finish to arrive here.

Taking one day at a time.

A Little Bit 'o Snow

Here in the Atlanta area it is snowing. I am not complaining because I know DC has about 56 inches so far this year. But I needed a title so there it is.

I'm sure my neighbors think I'm ghetto as hell today, but I work in a 24/7 center and I HAVE to go to work tonight. So I found an old comforter & a sheet that I didn't even realize that I had any more. Noooo Remmy you didn't! Yes I did...I put them over my car windows. Because I don't have an ice scraper & any extra time needs to be spent driving slowly to work. I miss having a garage. Really I do.

The Toyota situation worries me. No I don't own a Toyota, but I drive in Atlanta and; is it the pothole capitol? The other day when traffic was hitting brakes ahead of me I looked in my rear view mirror to make sure there wasn't a Toyota or Lexus behind me. And THEN I focused on stopping. Wasn't worried about a Mack truck being behind me. And those can weigh 10x what my car does. Well if one had been behind me I would have been worried, but who said I have rational thoughts.

Yumm! My slow cooker is bubbling...I'm making chili. I think my son may stay here when he gets off from work. So at this point even if the weather gets better, he knows I have chili simmering in the crock pot. I guess I have to share. That's what happens when you have a big mouth. No, I need him to come eat some, because a pot of chili and just me eating it. I would be eating it for at least a week. Like it...don't want to hate it.

Well, I'm going to walk the D-O-G. I will not fall, I will not fall.

What! Oprah was cancelled so they can report on the snow? For an hour? And then the news comes on for an hour? Give me a break you don't have to report it non-stop.

Double Time

I am not the most organized person. Ok I am far from "most" organized. I need to work on organization, mainly here at home. Probably should be working on it now instead of blogging.

I like to find shortcuts to make my job easier. I don't want to cut corners, but I want to use the tools that I have to make my job efficient. If we use an application/software and it provides the information needed for a report, then use that tool & extract the info. You want me to type A, B & C 5 times in 5 different places because you can't flip to page 3. Ohhh!

So I have to set up some templates & a few queries, and present them to an inept person.

I could really draw this rant out...but I have to go pick up my son from work.

Fortunately our cars are on different schedules. Now mine is fixed & his is having issues so we have 1 working car between the 2 of us.

Keeping Current

I try to watch the news and or read news online. But if I am going to NOT be depressed, I am going to have to avoid both.

Everything on the news is showing the devastation in Haiti, which is so depressing to me. I think the fact that so many people are willing to contribute & donate is great. But hearing about people not know if family member are alive, or hearing that they just found out all or most of their family died. Makes me so sad.

So I read the local news and I read about 2 boys that have recently died. The 1st one was I think 12 years old. He died climbing into his bunkbed. How? A stray bullet from some idiots outside shooting. The other one was 18 years old and his mother is waiting for an autopsy; he apparently died in his sleep. But I always get sad when I hear that a child has died. I know 18 years old I wouldn't call him a child to his face, but he is younger than my son...To me he's a child.

I am thankful for my life & today before I read the sad news...I spent a quiet day with my son & his roommate. We watched a DVD & I beat them in dominoes. LOL! OK I ended on a positive note. AND I ate spinach today...Vegetables...sticking with one of my 2010 goals.

Let's Do It Again, Randomness

I didn't make any resolutions for 2010. But I have a list in my head of somethings that I must do, regarding health, career & finances. I do have to get serious & buckle down. I must get back into study mode, because I need to work towards getting certifications to advance in my career.

Wow, those Saints are whipping the Cardinals.

I need to eat more fresh vegetables, but I always seem to let something go bad. Avocados for instance...I love them. It seems they are always not ripe enough when I am ready to eat them & I forget for a few days...then I have an over ripe mess.

My landlord annoys me so much. She always tells me at the last minute when maintenance/exterminator is coming. Well at least today I had about 8 hours notice. She's getting better. I live in a duplex so I have one neighbor that has the same landlord and they can't stand each other. Both of them can't wait until the lease is over in maybe March. I don't think my landlord realizes that I can't wait for my lease to be over too. I smile in her face....am I a backstabber? Umm I don't want the next 7 months to be totally miserable. I can see her making it unbearable if she realized that I don't like her. So I just play nice for now & smile.

I guess my random blog wouldn't be normal if I didn't have a comment about my dog. Not sure why he's started taking a few pieces of food out of his bowl to the carpet to eat. Then he leaves them there. Yeah he's an odd D-O-G.

It's 2010, y'all!

I was talking to a friend that I've known since elementary school, and when we were little if you had mentioned this year...We imagined that we would be living like the Jetsons. Yep, flying cars and all. Oh, how I could use a Rosie in my life. (That was the robot maid's name wasn't it.)

I didn't make any resolutions. I just have a list of a few things in my head that I must do, and a few things that I am going to try to do better. I know that is the easy way out. But I have to do what works for me.

I am working on a vision board...Well, it's on my laptop, because I do look at that more than anything, it's going to be my background. So once I get it together, then maybe I will do a traditional one.

Wouldn't you know, I start the year off with a rather random post. Ahh, that's me Random Remnants. And I guess I am going to end it with a bit of a rant.

My neighbors have 2 outside dogs, that are chained to their dog houses in the back yard. I feel bad for them, but I assume they have always been outside dogs. They get loose once in awhile, but they seem to stay close even if they are on the outside of the fence. At some point they got a little poodle mix. It seemed to be the pet for their little girl, I guess she's about 10 years old. I call it the yappy dog, because it always barks. Well, they are at a point where it seems the novelty has worn off & yappy is outside in the yard more often than inside it seems. In this frigid weather, so I am beginning to feel sorry for the dog. But my blood is boiling, because I have seen the little girl outside walking, playing with a little black fluffy puppy.

OK things don't always work out as planned. Maybe the poodle wasn't the best fit for them. Maybe the 10 year old isn't old enough to really be responsible for a dog. Maybe they are too busy to housetrain, take time for a dog. But please, find another home for the dog that didn't work out. And wait until you can take care of another dog properly. Because when the cute little fuzzy black puppy isn't a puppy anymore what happens? Four dog houses with dogs outside? I think our summers are too hot for some dogs to be outside chained up & at the moment it's too cold for them to be chained outside too.

Well, one of my try to do better for 2010 plans is to eat more vegetables...So let me go check on my red beans... I wonder how long my diet plans will last?

Customer Service on the Phone

Have you ever made a call, gone through menu after menu which includes entering your account #, to finally get a person and they ask...FOR THE ACCOUNT#? Arrh! That annoys me still, but not as much it did before I worked in a call center.

There are sooo many things that can affect whether the person gets the info you entered or not. From the company not using all of the technology correctly, to a major outage from their phone provider, to short wrap up times between calls. So if the person doesn't answer the phone & say "Hello Ms. Remnants, how may I help you?" Then usually ask them what do they need to help me. Sometimes the account #, or maybe the reason for my call. The call can go smoother if they can go through their own menus and ask you for the info as they get to it.

One thing that I didn't know before I worked in a call center is that if the company has the right technology a call center an be a great place for blind or visually impaired people to work. I am soo in aww of the blind people that I worked with, because they have to listen to the computer in one ear & the customer in the other. They have to remember how many times to tab to certain places to enter info & just memorize so much that I just depend on my sight to do. But they pretty much had to meet the same goals that those of us that could see did.

I know I've called somewhere & there was a rude person on the phone, especially in those companies that once they have you locked into a contract they don't have to work to keep loyal customers. Can you say Cable Companies, Ricky? But I guess I try to be pleasant even when I have a major issue, like waiting during that half day window & the technician hasn't called or come.

I could probably go another 10 paragraphs on scenarios & situations, but I'm off to see a movie.

I do have to say again that I am in aww of my blind coworkers. Because they used to deal with some of the same rude people that I would talk to. I had a hard time concentrating when a person just talked & talked while I tried to complete some of the more difficult requests. So that listening to different things in each ear just wouldn't work for me a deeply dependent on my vision with my glasses or contacts person that I am.

Movies, Movies, Movies!

Over the past 2 weeks I have gone to the movies to see. a) Everybody's Fine, b) Up in the Air, c) Did you here about the Morgans? & d) Armored.

Why these movies? There really are quite a few more that I want to see. I guess they each had an actor I like for one reason or another, well, one of the movies...I just really needed to see black people after those choices. LOL Actually, I knew about Armored before the others, but I saw trailers and added them to my list. I didn't realize that Sam Elliott was in 2 movies until I saw them. He's another actor that I enjoy seeing.

If it wasn't for the $5 matinee before noon...I wouldn't go so much. But I need to make sure that when I go to another theater that isn't my normal stop. I should know the matinee price & hours. Also theaters don't advertise when they change prices or times for the bargain matinee so I guess I should check often.
a) I liked the trailers & and I am a fan of R. De Niro. The movie was ok. It's your normal holiday family with issues movie. Just the kind of mix that I like funny moments, serious moments & happy moments. The entertainment that I needed.

b) Another movie that after seeing the trailers & the lead actor, I just had to watch. I thought that the fact that some of the people used in the firing scenes had actually been fired recently was interesting. It also doesn't totally follow the “Hollywood” formula. I enjoyed it, it won't be a classic in my book. I am sure that there is someone more deserving of an award for best actor, but I'm not voting so what I think doesn't matter.

c) c)Well, obviously Mr. Grant is in this one...I must have wanted to see a romantic comedy. Guy does something stupid, guy loses girl, girl & guy work it out, guy gets girl in the end. No, I didn't ruin the ending for you. You know the formula...But I liked the movie. And Sarah outside of New York city was funny.

d) Diversity in the cast. Oh boy! I don't think that it was entirely believable but it was entertaining and a good movie overall. Bad guys never prosper & the hero does. :-)

Randomness again

I have started quite a few posts. It's the finishing part that hasn't happened, so I'll just be random.

The weekend of Dec. 5th I had a great birthday & attended another friend's surprise party. I was in my home state of Texas. I stayed with one of my best friends that I have known since Jr. High. So we were celebrating birthdays for those of us OVER 45.

I didn't realize how much I missed seeing burnt orange & white for the Real UT, the University of Texas; because here in GA I don't see many people in Texas jerseys; hats etc., it's always the other UT.

I waited until the last minute take my car for its emissions test & it didn't pass. Can't get my tags until it does. The parts cost more than I can afford right now. Ugh...

Sometimes I feel like I have stepped so far backwards in my life.

My landlord is a lunatic...not just my opinion. I live in a duplex & my neighbor says our landlord is the devil.

Maybe my next post will be more coherent.

Really an Award?

I saw the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" the Saturday that it opened in Atlanta. I typically don't do reviews, because I am afraid I'll give something away. And I also don't feel that I write well enough to do reviews. I think I tweeted that Monique did an amazing job. I almost tweeted that Mariah won't win any awards, but she did ok. However, I decided to be nice. Her role was important, but she didn't have as much screen time as some of the other characters.

But when I saw this article I had to write something. I really do not know much about the award, but if it is for someone new to acting, well Gabby Sidibe should win it. Or if it is only for a new actor in a supporting role then any one of her classmates should get an award. And Paula Patton as Ms. Rains had a more significant role than MC as Mrs. Weiss, and did a good job.

What did MC do that was so amazing? Should she get an award because she didn't wear makeup? Oh maybe because she wore drab clothes? It seems to me whenever someone praises her performance they stop just short of saying she did a Plain Jane so well. The role was definitely more noteworthy than her previous role, but please wait until she does something more signifcant before giving her an award.

Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Save Now

I got a laugh out of this, I hope you do too!

Randomness & things that make me go Hmmm

When did compound cuss words become common? Namely the word bitchassidness (my spelling) I have seen it spelled different ways; and think it is a very relevant term. I just wonder why I am stuck in single syllable cuss word hell.

When exactly did companies start making the bulk of their profit on fees, instead of just whatever they charge for their service etc.? And or requiring a contract instead of providing the best customer service to keep customers?

Why do people think that only voting in the "Big" elections is the thing to do? Don't they know that voting in the local elections is just as important? Especially if having enough police to control crime or keeping enough firemen employed to protect us & our property is important to them.

Is all publicity good publicity? Example of the week...Katt Williams.

I have to start somewhere

I blog in my head all the time...but it never makes it to the computer. There are so many things that I have running through my head. So today I guess this will be a very random post.

Fort Hood, TX was practically home for me as a child. My parents bought their house in the city just outside of the base. But everything we did was on Fort Hood. I took swimming lessons & went swimming at an indoor pool on base. All my medical care was at Darnell. I went to movies there...I can't really remember the 1st time I went to a movie off base, but I remember thinking "Did I miss the National Anthem?" According to my son...movies on a military installation still have the "National Anthem" before the movie starts. We went grocery shopping at the commissary, and also did other shopping at the PX.

I went to the only Catholic school in town, and some of my friends lived on base. One of my best friends lived near this field that we really shouldn't have been playing in at times, but we did and we could see the imprints in the grass where helicopters had landed.

My father's funeral was in a chapel on Post. The service is actually a blur in my memory, but I do remember the drive to the cemetery, and I remember the soldiers in uniform stopping & saluting the procession as we went by.

I lived on post when I was married. My son learned to walk in the house his dad & I lived in there. And as an adult he went through training & the processing that soldiers go through on there way overseas.

So someone shot our soldiers & civilians working on the post that I once called home. I have fond, happy & some sad memories there. But the families of those that were shot & injured or killed there, will just have awful memories about the largest military installation in Texas. That their family member was killed or injured there while still in the US.

They are in my prayers...

Maybe its the rain

It seems like the day I wake up not feeling certain aspects of my job is the day that I get to work & everything is broke, no really stuff ain't working...I have a funky e-mail from my supervisor, and if he had read/addressed the e-mail I sent a few days before then funky would not have been necessary. I make a phone call to some one in another department; introduce myself & get "What are you calling me for?" The statement itself wasn't bad, but it was HOW he said it. Breathe count to 5...

I still have over 4 long hours to go...Can I do it without strangling someone?

Random Friday

Who's smarter me or my dog...my dog or my last boyfriend?
When I put my running shoes on my dog gets excited, because he equates that with going somewhere, walk, car ride to possibly walk somewhere new etc. I was going to do some yardwork so I put the running shoes on in the bathroom (out of D-O-G's view). Then I went into the garage & opened the car door to get my sunglasses and he jumped in ready to go. (He doesn't jump in the car everytime I open the door.)

Did he notice the shoes? Hmm, if so he was more observant than my last boyfriend...Sooo, I took him for a short ride. Back window down just enough for him to stick his head out...He was a happy dog, he did look at me funny when I pulled back into the garage. Hey it was a 10 minute drive. I needed to get my yard done before it starts to rain.

I still didn't answer the question, maybe the D-O-G is smarter than both humans.