Angie’s Drama

Rob and I broke down and bought the purple Dyson Animal vacuum cleaner. If you’ve never heard of it, then you obviously don’t care about vacuums as much as we do and you should just stop reading. In that regard, we’re big dorks. I can probably tell you the amp of each model as I’ve done so much research on vacuums. Having all the dogs necessates an excellent vacuum. The last big vacuum purchase was the Dirt Devil bagless which has since “bit the dust”. Actually it’s been on loan to a friend since November and I just really hate the thing right now. It shuts off when it gets too hot, which is before you can get one room done. Plus, all the dust flies everywhere when you dump the cannister. Not so good for the asthma.

So what did we do last night? We swept the living room, love seat and kitchen. WOW. I think if Rob were to ever have an affair, it would be with this vacuum. We’ll probably end up naming the damn thing. Sophie HATES it. She tries to attack it which is really annoying since it’s brand new and still pretty.

Reason number 332 why Rob and I don’t have children yet…We couldn’t have as much fun as we did last night. Plus, I can’t revolve my life around nap times. More on that later. Sunday afternoon and evening were booked for two separate parties. One was Ben’s Going Away Party at Kouri’s and the second was Stephanie’s 31st birthday party at Khacki Jacks.

The afternoon party at Kouri’s didn’t really kick in until 4:30-5:00. It had been cancelled earlier in the day since everybody was down at Sullivan’s cleaning up after the “Beach Party” nightmare. There was a private party later that evening so several employees couldn’t make it until later in the evening. We got that call after the last balloon was being tied at Confetti’s. Good thing we had a second party.

Enough people did make it and it was a blast. Ben and I go waaay back. Skateboards, The Sex Pistols and mohawks back. While he had been living in Biloxi for the past twelve years, he came back last year after Katrina. Biloxi’s gain is our loss but I know we’ll be seeing him soon.

The party at Khaki Jacks was fun too. We had to leave before alot of people made it, but, the people that were there made it fun. Too bad Rob and I both had to work the next morning. Not that it’s a bad thing having a job. It just limits your “fun time.” It’s most glaringly evident when your friends are all in the service industry and staying out until 4am. Or past 9pm on a Sunday.

So one of our conversations involved friends having children and not being able to go out as much as they told you they were going to be out. Example: “Just because my wife’s having a baby doesn’t mean I’m not going out with the guys every week.” Wanna bet?
The conversation turned and I said, “I don’t know, it revolves around nap times or some shit.” And that’s how you can tell I’m not a parent.

While I know some people on other sites have been lambasting the new Alwan’s, we had a great experience there this afternoon. Beginning today, Monday thru Friday they’ll be offering lunch from 11am-1pm. They offer butterfly pork chop sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches, ribeye sandwiches, brats and polish sausage. They also have two BBQ sandwiches for $4.00. Pat said they installed the awning so they can provide shade to the picnic tables. Rob and I, being on the diet, tried one of everything (except the BBQ) without buns. Yummmmm. We also stocked up on the beef tenderloin ($9.99 a lb) and grabbed some fresh pork fillets. The grand opening continues tomorrow with live music from Bobbi King.

The concert was well worth the drive to Tinley Park. It was also really nice being at the venue for an event other than Jimmy Buffett. Going to a Buffett concert is hell because of all the people, the lines, the pushing, getting separated from the group and the lines. Not to mention grass skirts and port-a-potties don’t really mesh. So, it was actually quite refreshing to be at a concert that wasn’t sold out. There were people from every walk of life. Twelve year olds that probably shouldn’t be at a concert by themselves and wearing bandannas as tops, older folks you’d think would rather see Elton John, bikers, and of course the band sluts. The band slut can be easily spotted because all of their actions are carefully manipulated so that members of the crew see them. The biggest indicator of the band slut would be the repeated girl-on-girl dirty dancing. And let me just say, there were quite a few band sluts working it last night.

Cinderella’s Tom Keifer had a little trouble with his voice which was the most noticable on “Don’t Know What You Got Till It’s Gone.” “Gypsy Road” sounded great though. They played for an hour and then it was on to Poison.

They started off with “Look What the Cat Dragged In” which really got the crowd going. Then there was some mention that after 20 years of touring things still screw up-as their backdrop faild to work-but you move on and deal with it. (Isn’t that my motto?) C.C. was featured very prominently throughout the show. Ricki did a great drum solo and C.C. did his own solo/song thing. For the encore, they sang “Talk Dirty to Me” which was fabulous.

On the way home, Melissa got pulled over for a headlight out and slightly exceeding the speed limit. The officer was really nice about it and gave her a warning. When we told him where we were coming from, he said, “Did you rock out?” Having a state trooper use that phrase is about the equivalent of him saying, “I’ve pulled over a million cars…and I’ve rocked them all!”

My aunt informed me that it was tradition to go on the Paradice for birthdays. She must mean her birthday and Dad’s birthday. If I’m not with them, I maybe go once a year. Usually there’s a big group going and Rob’s not around. So, last night, after dinner we went on the boat. What do you buy for your Dad that he hasn’t already bought himself? That would $50 in chips for the roulette table. While he didn’t do so hot, I walked away a winner. Away from the table a winner. Not off the boat a winner. Oh well. I don’t think I’ll play the machines my aunt plays again. There’s a karma thing there that doesn’t really jive. Plus, the poker machines are evil.

I found this gem: http://www.workingamerica.org/badboss/

While working as the development director for a small mental health association chapter I had the worst boss ever. One aspect of my job depended on direct giving from benefactors. The problem was the Executive Director had burned every bridge she ever crossed so no one wanted anything to do with the chapter. She was the type A personality who didn’t get along with women. She was married, had two boys and hoped they’d never marry as that would be two less women to deal with. Both her grown children had moved out of the country which tells you a little. I put my own reputation at stake working there since literally everyone that ever met her disliked her.

She wasn’t very keen on the mental health aspect of the chapter so instead, she relentlessly focused on the business aspect. She was also “highly allergic” to anything scented. She checked with a lawyer and had the employee handbook updated to ban all use of scented lotions and perfume. She even complained about my shampoo being too fragrant. Someone who owns a 150 pound Boxer (a male of course) is complaining about my shampoo? What does she do when the dog passes gas?

She also ammended the employee handbook so that there was no such thing as comp-time or over-time. I may have worked day and night on a project but I was required to be there from 8am-5pm every single day with only a half hour lunch. I was required to stay later if I was longer than half an hour. The chapter paid her dues to be part of the Rotary Club so she could take two hour lunches. If I was taking a prospective benefactor to lunch and was gone a couple of hours, I was required to stay late that evening.

There were several instances where she completely went against what the board of directors had decided. One afternoon several board members came to the office to help fold and stuff envelopes only to learn that she had contracted the job out. They were not happy that their struggling chapter spent hundreds of dollars for something they were prepared to do themselves.

The final straw came the day after a highly successful event. It was my birthday, so I brought in donuts for the staff of seven. After arriving late, she asked me to meet her in the conference room with another employee. Donut in hand, she proceeded to tell us that there wasn’t enough in the budget to keep us full-time. I was more than welcome to stay on part-time to work on another event the following month. I told her I’d have to think about it as it probably wouldn’t be beneficial to me in the long run. I told her more than likely I’d just go back to waiting tables full-time. Did I mention it was my birthday?

She then told me to get ready for the board meeting as I was to take the minutes of the meeting. Again, not in the job description. I told her I was not going to the board meeting. How humiliating. Go to the meeting of a job I just lost and take her minutes. Not gonna happen. She accepted that at first. Ten minutes later, as I was packing up my office, she came down the hall raging and screaming at me to get into the board room. Apparently she thought it would look bad to the board members (her boss) if I wasn’t there. I told her I was a grown woman, not a child and I never respond to screaming. That infuriated her more than anything ever could. She came up to me with the wild eyed look of a crazy person and told me to get the hell in the meeting room. She had already let me go. She really expected me to stay on part-time and help her out with the event. Even if I were to do that, I wouldn’t have been taking her meeting minutes. That would be the secretary’s job.

After I collected my things and left the office she apparently had a nervous breakdown at the board meeting and was let go the next day. I decided to get out of the non-profit business and go back to waiting tables where I could at least depend on some sort of salary as well as wear my favorite perfume.

So many people are taking off on vacation and I can’t help but feel envious. With Rob’s closing dates and my promotional calendar, it’s literally impossible for us to be gone more than a weekend. Boarding dogs for any longer would be a small fortune anyway. I resolve that we’ll at least get to Chicago for the weekend. A long weekend. And I will stop feeling sorry for myself. Maybe tomorrow.

Saturday: A little block party called Sheridan Fest with some friends, neighbors and a little ELWOOD thrown in. Rob’s working so until then, it’s a solo event.

Sunday: The family’s going wild and crazy by having breakfast at Wildlife Prairie Park for Father’s Day. It should be a fun day but I’m sure the “girlie” in me will take over and I’ll wear the completely wrong shoes for walking around the park. It sucks being a fashion icon.

Wednesday: The highlight of month! Poison and Cinderella together again! This time in Chicago. Road trip with the girls AND free tickets. How can you top that? We do need to find a fun place to hang out in Tinley Park before the concert. What are the drink prices up to? Eight dollars a beer? Ten dollars a margarita?

Saturday: Pig-a-Poolaza at the Owens’ compound. Couldn’t make it last year so this year is a must.

Wednesday: Darkstar Orchestra on the Riverfront. We’ll probably see a lot of people we haven’t seen since the last Darkstar show on Rob’s birthday in January. Hopefully they won’t run out of beer again. Hopefully Chad’s cab will come.

See, Angie. You CAN post pictures on your blog.

– Love, Bill.

Have you ever had a particularly bad break up? Not the break up itself but a bad relationship that carried on way too long? This being Peoria it’s not particularly unheard of to run into exes. Thankfully, 90% of mine are out of state now so that helps. The ones that I still see every now and then and chat with were never biggies. Most people have say three to four very serious long-term relationships with several one and two daties thrown in there. But after a really bad relationship finally dies and goes to breakup hell, there are a few standard rules: pay attention, please.

Rule #1 You avoid that person’s last known place of employment like the plague. If it happens to be a grocery store, you find another store. A restaurant, you learn to live without that food forever. And so on…

Rule #2 You may have to give up some mutual friends. This one sucks, but really, do you still want to hear about the person? Plus, with this one, there is always the possibility of an accidental run in.

Rule #3 You do not drive anywhere near the vicinity of said ex’s last known address. No chance for an accidental stoplight meeting. This is a big rule to adhere to since there is always a chance, no matter how slim, that you could be involved in an accident near or around the dwelling. Then, you’d look like a complete stalker. Can’t take that chance.

Rule #4 You avoid any known favorite hang outs of said ex and his/her friends. You have to cut the ties and move on. Doesn’t really happen if you keep running into them or people in their circle. This really sucks but you have to do it.

Rule #5 You must avoid the person’s favorite stores. It’s up to you to find a new bookstore, clothing store, etc…No chance encounters.

Rule #6 Ten years after you broke up do not decide to write the person a letter declaring your undying love. Okay, this one pretty much only applies to Rob’s ex who wrote that letter and sent it to Rob the week before our wedding. She obviously didn’t understand the concept of “Team Walker.” Silly, silly girl.

These are the rules I’ve found that most people adhere too. Feel free to add on to the Break-Up Rules. That being said, there is always a chance that you may see that person. Normal things like running into the grocery store and SMACK there they are. You’re looking at pillows in Target and SMACK there they are. Things just happen that way and Peoria really is just a big fishbowl where somehow everyone’s connected in way, shape or form.

You do not, under any circumstance expect to see that person years and years later AT YOUR JOB (see rule #1). Doing your thing, working on some paperwork, look up and that person just walked by your door. Especially after not seeing them since the breakup. Damn it, I was so proud too. Really who could say that they haven’t laid eyes on their ex since they broke up more than eight years ago. That just doesn’t happen in Peoria. The run has ended. Hopefully it will be another eight years.