Shalee’s Diner

Way back when in my previous job, I loved that fact that I had an entire IT department clamoring over itself to assist me.  It seems that “computer geeks” do have wonderful senses of humor, and they crave the attention of people who will creatively and humorously enter pleas for assistance rather than lambast them for the faulty computers. 

I had been told time and time again by numerous IT reps that as soon as my name popped up on the screens, they raced to be the ones to first read the message (for the laughs), in hopes that they would be the one that who could be my superhero for the day.  They’d much rather call me, a person with a happy disposition than a Negative Nancy who is irritated at the slightest deviance of computer etiquette.

There’s a lesson in there, I’m just sure of it…

Yeah, I miss those days.  Now when I have a problem, I tell the single IT person who is in the company.  Though he has a great sense of humor, he’s so swamped with constant requests that he barely has time to go to the bathroom let alone laugh at my excellent sense of humor and style. 

So instead of the single recipient, I try to foist my weirdness on everyone in the company.  Hey, it’s worth the looks if I can get a few smiles.  Here’s the last company-wide email that I sent last week.  Yeah, it dealt with the copier again.  I have a feeling that this machine will be the only way that I can shine my IT humor star.

(The copier just quit working after a misfeed.  I searched high and low for the reason the machine wouldn’t work, opening every door and searching for any micro piece of paper that might cause the sensors to read misfeed.  I was stumped, so I had to call the copier service to come to our aid.  In the meantime, I sent a message to everyone so that everyone would know not to print to this particular device.)

Good morning all,

It seems that copier in the Executive area has felt the heat of summer and then decided to take a vacation.  It is out of order until the technician can figure out its destination and bring it back in line. 

You’ll need to copy elsewhere until I let you know of its return.

Thanks,

Shalee

Later, after the serviceman came and showed me another hidden door (oh, did I feel dumb!), I sent an update to the company, letting them know that all was as it should be… in my own way. 

Greetings again,

Well, the copier was found on a Florida beach, sipping a piña colada whilst lying under an umbrella with reggae music playing in the background.  The technician asked it come back, and, all in all, it returned quickly and readily.  It seems that the glaring midday sun on the Floridian sands is much hotter than the Executive area in the office.  It suffered only a slight sunburn for all its adventuring, but I think it’s a lesson learned.

If the copier runs a little slower than usual, you can blame it on the reggae; that music mellows everything! 

Thanks,

Shalee

You can’t blame the employees for being miffed at the copier.  They’re trying to figure out how the copier was allowed time away when we must slave away, let alone sip a piña colada.

A petition is being sent around for us to get a margarita machine in the break room.  My name went on it immediately.

Hey, I’m nothing if not helpful for the greater cause.  J

I’m going to go ahead and wish you a Happy 4^th of July because we’re heading off to see the kids at grandma’s house.  I’m not spending a moment on the internet unless my kids want to show me something on it.  I plan on lots of hugging, kissing and laughing… all of which I can do without touching a key. 

Hope you have a spectacular weekend!

The city is resurfacing the street in front of our house this morning.  Actually, the entire neighborhood is getting it eventually.  Today just happens to be our day. 

I awoke early from a really great sleep.  You know one of the blessings I’ve experienced of late is having longer, better sleep.  I’m regularly getting 6 hours, sometimes as much as eight!  It’s like a miracle or something, but one that I’m glad to have even if it goes away again.

You’d think that I have nothing on my mind with all the ease that I’m experiencing in my body. 

That would not be the case.

• Mr. Right has been out of town for the past 3 days.  I don’t like it when he’s gone.  I’d much rather be with him than without. 
• Remember when, back in March, I requested prayers for a situation of which I could not share?  Well, it’s still ongoing and will be a huge change in life direction for us.  And I still can’t tell you about it.  (But hopefully I can soon.)
• The Girl is turning 13 at the end of this month.  She’s tall, delightful and beautiful.  That should be enough for you to see why I would have cause for concern.
• Our friends are working through some serious marriage issues.  They are on my mind a lot, causing me to pray for them throughout the day.  (By the way, I think that they’re on the way to mending.  Thank you for prayers on their behalf.  It’s going to take a lot of work, but if they will trust that God can heal them, they’re on their way to true joy in their marriage.)

And yet, after these and other concerns, I find myself at peace.  Thank you God!  It’s only because I know I can foist all on His lap and live life.  I like being able to do that.

So after breaking my fast with eggs with Canadian bacon and readying myself by an hour earlier than usual, I was out the door in order to keep from being boxed into my house by tar trucks and workers.  Off to Starbucks so that I could take pleasure in a cup of coffee at the leisure in which it was intended to be enjoyed. 

This time without Mr. Right has been so much more pleasant than the first trip.  I’ve enjoyed the company of a good friend (thanks Jenny!).  I’ve watched three movies (Sleuth was so not worth the time.  Then She Found Me was.  Passengers was also, but it was slow moving.  If you’re not a patient watcher, you might want to skip it.)  

I’ve also read a couple of murder mystery books that were modern, enjoyable and set in a different culture - if you consider the Quebecois life a different culture.  I do because the author, Louise Penny, definitely defines differences and challenges between francophone and Anglophones in a semi-split Quebec.  Though I did figure out “whodunit”, I would highly recommend the series (three books so far).  I think in general, most readers won’t figure them out.  I’m just wired weird.  I’m on the third book now.  We’ll see if I figure this one out too.  If nothing else, I’m reading them more for the enjoyment of the characters with very human emotions and typical - yet endearing - lives.  The wit and humor are excellent and the feelings of each of them will move the readers in different ways.  Though the books do not need to be read in order, I would recommend it because the author has the story on a timeline.  I really think you would benefit from the author’s intent of it being read as such, especially since the characters actually grow, change and learn from their past actions.  Start with Still Life and work your way from there.

I am so looking forward to picking up my man tonight!  I’m not one who likes to go days without kisses, holding hands or to have the remote control all to myself…  Needless to say, our time will be spent together… very together.   J (*ahem*)

I just now received a call from a friend who is coming back from Memphis.  She asked if I wanted anything before she heads out.  I’m so looking forward to the pulled pork she’s bringing back!  Ahhh, that’s what home tastes like to me.  That and chocolate chip cookie dough and our homemade apple pie that is.

Okay, I’ve rambled up one side and down the other. Hope y’all all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Actually, I think all of you are winners, but I don’t have $3,000 to give away to everyone.  So after much thought and trepidation, I pushed a button and the Random Number Generator came up with an ultimate winner for me.

 The lucky duck is #136 - Tawnda who commented:

I love their Italian dressing and it’s so versatile!

I have to say, Tawnda.  I love their Italian dressing (especially the Robusto) and use it often as a marinade for my chicken for both entrees and shish kabobs.  Easy, quick and flavorful to the nth degree! 

Thanks to everyone for participating and even more thanks to Wish-Bone for sponsoring the giveaway in the first place!  I really thank you for stocking my pantry with delicious flavors.  I have a few that I need to add to my dwindling collection - Garlic Ranch and Caesar come to mind immediately…  Oh my!  Salads have never sounded so good!

Hey, you know having your mind not really concentrating on important things can really make you forget stuff.

Like how today is the last day of the Wish-Bone® Giveaway, the contest where you can enter multiple contests for the $100 and a Wish-Bone® prize pack.  Enter mine and then head over to the review round-up page for more chances to win!  

Have you entered my contest yet?  If you haven’t, click here.  Read the entry and leave the appropriate comment for it.  If you want additional entries, you can tweet about it or blog about it at your own place.  Easy peasy and it could earn you $100 gift card and your own delicious Wish-Bone® supply!  Not bad if you ask me.

Also, you’ll find some fantastic recipes that you can try as well… Like the new one I just entered - Chipotle Chicken Salad.  Holy crow!  This recipe is as simple as simple can get and really tasty.  That makes for a perfect summer combo.

You have until 5 PM tonight to get in your entries on my contest.  And boy, oh boy!  Have I been dying to use that random number generator again…  So head over there now and start your tastebuds for some Wish-Bone® Dressings!

This weekend was quite eventful.  On Friday I had a friend from church call me, pleading for help with her marriage.  It seems that this couple recently has experienced much of what Mr. Right and I did in our trouble time.  They needed someone else to hear their pain and to tell them what to do if they want to save their marriage.

I talked to the wife.  Mr. Right talked to the husband.  Husband spent the night Friday and talked with me Saturday all morning (7 AM to noon).  Husband came back and spent night on Saturday.  It really hurts to watch someone else suffer through misery that you yourself had to endure, but Mr. Right and I both know that it is through the misery and letting that God can heal the wounds that are even deeper within them.  We can’t heal them for them (like they want); we can only hold their hands and tell them that there is hope and a valid reason to trust in God, even if you can’t see it right now.

Though it felt good to be of use to God like this, it felt awful in that it reminded me of our time when I wanted nothing more than for Mr. Right to pass away so that I wouldn’t have to deal with the pain I was feeling.  (I know that was an ugly, selfish, misleading “solution” to our problems, but it was the immediate “run away” feeling/solution I had at the time in all my illogical thinking.  I can easily see now how that was only a short-term thought to a long-term problem in me.) 

I also felt as if all the pain I had caused Mr. Right was slapping me on both cheeks again.  I asked Mr. Right if I would always feel this ache of regret when talking of our situation to help others (as we have done before.)  He said maybe, but he still loves me and still has fully forgiven me for the pain I contributed to the marriage.

Having him for my husband is still one of the greatest gifts that God bestowed on me.  I only wish that I could be half the mate to him as he is to me.

If you would pray for this unnamed couple, I sure would appreciate it.  Though their story is similar to ours, it’s not as severe as our story was, and yet it doesn’t mean their pain is any less than what we endured.  They both want to have a happy marriage, but it’s going to take a lot of work, counseling (individual and marriage) and complete trust in God, not to mention oodles of patience, endurance and the willingness to persevere when one of them hurts the other either intentionally or not.

Also, if you would pray for Mr. Right and me, that would be a blessing too.  We want to be good tools for God, we want to know how to give them the words they need to hear, and we really need to have patience and empathy for both of them.  It’s going to be a long arduous process for them and they’re going to need people (other than ourselves even) to stand by them telling them that it will be worth the time and effort it will take to bring them joy as partners in life.

Oh, and happy Monday y’all.