The Top 10: Working from Home

Working from home is not always ideal. I don't have a proper office. My desk is in my bedroom. It's over crowded, and feng shui proponents would be wary. Yet, most of the time, it works just fine, like this afternoon. At about 2:30 i was feeling mighty sleepy and rather than fight the feeling, I honored it. I crawled under the covers, read for about 3 minutes, and then drifted away into power nap semi-oblivious bliss.
Here are my top 10 reasons why I like working from home:

1. The coffee is consistent and fresh.
2. The dress code is barefoot and braless
3. Don't have to share fridge.
4. Ditto for bathroom.
5. Don't have to pretend that I am very deep in thought when I am really sleeping.
6. Reoccurring fantasies about UPS guy could actually come true.
7. I can multi-task -- make business call while scrubbing shower or making soup
8. Flexibility in scheduling appointments with Comcast, exterminator, etc.
9. Saved gas money goes toward computer printer ink fund
10.When I am not in the mood to work, I can clean closets and still get that feeling of accomplishment.

Roll With It

One of my closest friends called today. I love our Sunday conversations. They are an accumulation of a week's worth, or sometimes two weeks worth, of action and emotion. We discuss our relationships, careers, and kids mostly. I miss her terribly since I left New York.
After the usual personal updates, she politely asked, "Can we change the subject?"
"NO," I answered sarcastically.
She went on to say, "My stomach has that roll!"
There was a dramatic pause; she used to be an actress.
"I read about it," she said describing it as an 'our age' kind of inevitability. " And I am quite troubled by it," she added.
Though her son had just told her that morning how beautiful she was, there was more on her mind.
"There I am...my skinny legs, fat arms, and this roll. I'm like a donut woman."
My friend, though sweet, is not a donut woman by any stretch. She's more of a smart cookie, is very revered in her field, has a lot of fans, plus her son is absolutely right about her beauty. Caught without her Spanx, however, she feels a tad "less than" cause she has "more of."
(It is rare to post without a pic, but Miss Blogworthy notes that she promised anonymity to her donut pal, and would not post a photo of her or any middle aged part of her body. Finding a body double in the wee hours of the morning would prove too difficult.)

Breathtakingly Bad Judgment

Last week there was a most beautiful sunset over the Coral Springs Super Wal-Mart -- My appreciation for the pink sky and dramatic cloud formations, however, was overshadowed by the orange glow of a cigarette. A father lingered by the front entrance smoking. His fidgety kids waited as he luxuriated with deep rhythmic drags. Eventually he put it out and they went inside.
I don't want to sound overly righteous. But the only not-very-eloquent thought I had was "Are you f--king kidding me?!?!" It's not about the smoking. It's about making it look like such a treat in front of his kids.
I mean, is that really necessary?

Checked Baggage 2

I wrote a letter to Delta expressing my dissatisfaction with the checked baggage system (see "Checked Baggage" post). I decided to sign it "Dr. Dagmi." I don't think it had impact on the response, but it was kind of interesting to borrow a different identity, and kind of scary to do it so easily. Stan the Man read the good doctor's plea, and sent me back this note...........

Dear Dr. Dagmi,

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the service provided while
traveling with us on October 10, 2009. On behalf of Delta Air Lines, I
sincerely apologize for your disappointment with our checked baggage
fees.

Your feedback is important to us and we appreciate the time you took to
write. Be assured I will be sharing your comments with our Corporate
Marketing leadership team.

Since the fee charged for your bag was correct, a refund would not be
due. Prior to your next trip, we invite you to visit the web site of
your operating carrier for the most up-to-date information on checked
baggage fees.

As a gesture of goodwill, I have issued an Electronic Transportation
Credit (eTCV) in the amount of $25.00.

Dr. Dagmi, I hope I have been able to resolve your concerns. As a
valued customer, your business is important to us and given the
opportunity of serving you in the future, I am confident Delta will not
only meet but exceed your expectations.

Sincerely,

Stan M. Pereira
Coordinator
Customer Care

I am still wondering how many of the airlines are going to manage this problem. I flew Jet Blue two weeks ago, and they managed it very well. They didn't charge for checking bags.

Checked Baggage

The bag checking system is far from perfection. I get royally irked when i pay $20 per bag, and others check theirs at the gate for free.

It happened today flying back home from Tallahassee. I flew with Delta, on a 50 passenger plane operated by Atlantic Southeast airlines. It was a pretty full flight, and as we boarded nearly everyone was asked to hand off their rolling suitcases so that they could be stowed in the luggage compartment below. Credit cards, however, were not swiped.

My breath quickened. I felt the frustration of unfairness spreading inside of me. I got to my seat and had to rant to my neighbor, Mr. Cedric Austin. I noticed the shallow and short overhead bins. I am sure the Delta personnel were well aware of the size of the aircraft, saw the terminal gate swell with people, and knew that many bags would need to be checked.

We deplaned, and all the pink ticketed bags sat on the tarmac. Passengers readily picked up their bags. I asked a bag handler, "How many bags did you just unpack?" "About 30," he said. So Delta got my 20 bucks but let this additional $600 fall through their fingers.

I picked up my bag 20 minutes later on the carousel. Naturally, mine was the last bag out. I know that I shouldn't just whine. I should make suggestions on how to better the systerm. But it's 3:38 AM and I need to get my daughter to school around 7:30. I emailed Delta customer service on Saturday afternoon and am waiting for a reply...................to be continued.

BLACK THUMB

I can keep fresh flowers alive for a couple of days,but I can't seem to get the gist of plants. The last plant that i killed was an orchid. It was given to me on my birthday last year. I strategically placed it in a place that I pass by everyday, so that I'd remember to check on it often and see if it needed watering. That did not end very well.


I discovered that I do like fake flowers -- but I mean the seriously fake kind, so that there is no mistaking them for the real deal. I like my fakes made from plastic, beads, yarn, fabric,and paper -- these are les fleurs for me.




I now have a virtual garden around my house, and all they require is a little dusting.

TWICE LICE

I am finally seeing the lice...........i mean light.

Last night, howeverm I saw the former. I was not happy, but neither was I in denial like the last time. The first time "we" had lice it took about 10 days for me to finally make the connection between sammi's incessant head scratching and head lice. I chalked it up to dry skin, allergies to shampoo, allergies to food...anything but lice. But you know what. We got through it.

Today, less $295, I could breathe a sigh of relief and release my children back into the social arena in which they most brilliantly shine!(Well, ok, that was a little over-dramatic, but the gentle sarcasm laced with iced coffee that's running through my body, made me write that.)

At the Family Lice Removal in Coral Springs, Sammi and Dylan were de-loused, I was head-checked, and we bought a can of anti-nit mint hair spray which smells good to humans, but repulsive to lice. Wendy Pincus, owner and Head Lice Specialist, has opened branches in Atlanta, Maryland, and New Jersey. We'll be checking back with Wendy for a $75 follow up visit at the end of next week.

I could also buy the product from Wendy, apply it, and then hopefully (and joyfully) confirm the absence of lice or eggs. But, simply put, I do not have faith in my own ability to know if my children are de-loused. I have never been a mom who does hair -whether french braiding or diligently parting and combing, it's just not my thing.

Last night I took the over-the-counter NIX kit and smothered Dylan's hair in the formula. As i sifted through her heavy, thick, beautiful infested hair, I knew I would be taking her to a specialist in the morning. But I continued nit-picking for a while. Even though i know i'm not that good at it, there is something very satisfying about finding lice and removing them. The "Got ya!" moment is extremely rewarding. You've seen monkeys at the zoo patiently lovingly picking through one another's coat....same thing.