Help Me Understand

      Let me just start off by saying that I know I probably won't gain any new followers after what I'm about to rant about. But I truly do believe that what I have to say needs to be said. I need to say it, because maybe one of you could explain to me why these things are popular. Help me see the light, so to speak.

      Those that follow know that I am striving to become a published author. It is a dream that I know will come true, one day. But sometimes I wonder what in the hell I am doing wrong. Especially when I see things like this on television...

      Honestly, it pains me to put that picture on my blog. I've named my beloved the Charmed One. Well, Charmed One loves this show, which means I have to endure aaagggg, and nonsensy untalented writing. I could write the same blog week after week, like the writing is for this show. And its a frickin blockbuster. UNBELIEVABLE. Really?

      When I want to escape reality I read. THINGS THAT ARE BELIEVABLE. I read books or articles that don't have the same plot, page after page. I mean, how can this show be that popular? I'm not against unrealistic ideas, just unrealistic ideas that are the same, week after week, show after show. Someone please help me understand how such things can be bought by agents, producers, a frickin television station, etc. 

      Again, I can understand how this may be popular in a comic book, but in an hour long television show? Crazy. Let's see, will the dead people come after us this week? Aaaaagggg, aaagggg, agggg. We have to shoot them in the head, chop their heads off, or spear them in the heads, etc. WeEk aFtEr WEEK. Oh wait, here's a little drama, is this "normal" person to be trusted or not? 

      Puhhhh leazzze.

      While I'm at it there is one more show that someone might help me to understand.

      Do I need to say anymore? Apparently I do. A television show based on an unbelievable being? And it runs for years? 

      I know, I know. I better stop before hate mail starts. If you are a believer, or follower, of either The Walking Dead, or Finding Bigfoot, good for you. Make me a believer! Tell me what I don't know, or what I am missing by not watching these shows. 

Are you a fan of either of these shows? Why should I watch either one? What is your least favorite television show at the moment?

   

Spring Has Sprung (At least here!)

     I know some of you who read this are on a whole different season altogether, because you are not in the United States. But right now I have to talk about our newest season here, Spring. I'm not sure that much of my family has seen many signs of Spring in Western NY. They were just getting more snow a couple days ago. But where I am Spring has Sprung. Pretty much.

      As I write this we will be in our second night straight of temperatures in the upper 30s. In Savannah, Georgia. My boss thinks this cold comes from me being from the north, and is contemplating shipping me back. Then she thinks twice. ;) I'm told this is abnormal for here, and I hope it is. This hot cold thing we have going on is getting old. 

      But at least we got the hot. And with that little pieces of Spring are showing up here and there. Like this... 

      Or this...

The Maple leaves are coming!

      WAIT! I have a few more, and if you don't think Spring is coming your way, please just believe! ;)

      Please believe, if this is happening here, it is bound to happen to your area too!

      

      I have recently taken all of these on my phone. And remember, I live in the southeast. We are generally warm. Our planting zone is 8, maybe 9. It just depends on where you look! If you are still cold trust me, the warmth will come. 

      Eventually. 

      Has Spring sprung where you live? Where is that? If not, have you seen any signs that it might eventually come?

W.P.I.- The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

One Word

            One word.

            I have one word that I absolutely love. It is a word that has so many meanings. That is one reason why I love it.

            You could find this word defined as “to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.” Or, “to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc); give credence to.” Those definitions came from dictionary.com.

            Do you know which word it is yet?

            A few years ago Charmed came home and put this nice little paperweight thingy on my desk. You see, the Charmed One knows sometimes I lack self confidence. And believe it or not, just looking at this little paperweight brings a smile to my face, and makes me have a little more faith in myself.

            Have you figured out which word I am talking about yet? HINT: I have used this word one time so far in this rant. J

            Okay. Okay. Here it is…

            Yes, the word is believe. I just got it tattooed on my arm, as a matter of fact. Well, the tattoo is of a quill that just finished writing the word believe. The writer in me needed another little something, so I tied the quill in with my favorite word. I’m happy with it, even if it hurt a wee bit more than the last one.

            Someone asked me the other day believe what? There are so many ways I could go with that answer, but I just said, “Yourself.” (The jokester in me wanted to say, Santa Claus. J) I’ll admit that at times I don’t believe in myself enough. I sometimes lack confidence. (You’ll possibly hear more about that in Thursday’s blog.) The writing life is a long and sometimes frustrating one. At times I wonder if I am just wasting time trying to get published. I wonder if I really suck at this thing that I want to make it so bad in. Sometimes I do get down when I realize I didn’t win another writing competition, when the numbers of views for this blog are down, or when no one responds or likes anything I put on the KRW facebook page.

            Those periods of feeling like I’m a loser don’t last long. If you feel like this too just remember… We can’t let them last long. We have to pick our heads up and put one foot in front of the other. We have to believe in ourselves. Right? Because we deserve that belief. We can’t let life beat us down. We rock. We are good people, and we will not let anyone or anything keep us down. We will conquer! It may not happen overnight, but we will overcome our doubts and fears. We will be the person we see inside our heads. J

          What is one word you like above all others? Do you have tattoos?   

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The Recap

      This past weekend was the big one. The be all end all of St. Patrick's celebrations here in Savannah, Georgia. Although I don't like crowds, Charmed and I headed out Saturday night. We found one bar that wasn't too crowded and unruly. After only a few minutes we were pleasantly surprised when a group of men and women entered wearing police uniform shirts and kilts. This group quickly donned bagpipes and drums and started in a trio of songs. The smile that covered my face was unbreakable. They were police officers from Rockland County, NY, who were going to be a part of the parade. Afterward we met a few of these guys and their wives. They were excellent musicians and even more excellent people. I'll never forget this night.

      We had heard horror stories about people showing up outside the window at 2 a.m. getting their roadside seats for the parade. We even had neighbors that were leaving for the weekend. But it rained. So it wasn't too unruly. I didn't even hear anyone outside until almost 7 a.m. But when the people and visitors of Savannah woke and started rolling aroumd I felt safe! Two state troopers sat right outside our windows. :)

      After a while I got myself ready and started to get dressed for the occasion...

      Then the parade started and all happiness was found on all the crowds faces. Until they saw this. I truly believe this is the scariest leprechaun of all time...

      And then this little group came along, and I wondered how I am not a part of this society. Friends say I should've been the creator.

The Shenanigans Society

      Finally, I take pride in certain individuals whom I consider real heroes- our military, firefighters, and police officers.

Pipes and Drums from a police precinct in Long Island, NY.

      I had a blast, even though it rained for most of the parade. It made me happy to see such a celebration for the Irish Saint, and Irish. Yay, Irish!

      Do you attend St. Patrick's day parades? Can you play an instrument? When was the last time you've heard bagpipes live?

W.P.I.- There are several stories associated with the Shamrock Plant. One of the most popular stories is that St. Patrick, the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland, picked a shamrock plant from the grass to explain the Holy Trinity to his congregation; the three leaves, he said, represented the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death. The Shamrock Plant is also credited with the arrival of spring and as a symbol for the “season of rebirth.”Oxalis regnelli, the green leafed version of the Shamrock Plant, has small delicate white flowers while Oxalis triangularis, or False Shamrock Plant, has dark purple leaves and pinkish lavender flowers. 

   

It's St. Patrick's Day!

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!

  That' s right, that's Irish for Happy St. Patrick's Day! Top o de mornin to ya, my friends! This is the day I have been waiting months for.

The day where almost everyone claims they are Irish. It's a day that most associate with parade's, green beer, and Ireland. I thought I would share some little bits of information that I have found along the way.

  St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland. He was born in England and was enslaved in Ireland at age 14. He eventually fled only to return years later to preach.

  Around 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. 

  Popular Irish toasts on St. Patrick's Day include: May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out.

  On any given day 5.5 million pints of Guinness are consumed around the world. But on St. Patrick's Day, that number more than doubles to 13 million pints. 

  It is said that St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland. This is not true due to glacial melt. The waters surrounding the Emerald Isle are too cold for snakes to survive. 

  One estimate suggests there are about 10,000 regular three leaf clovers for every lucky four leaf clover. Today was my lucky day. I found this four leaf clover. It seemed to stand heads above all the rest of its buddies.

  Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first for hope, the second for faith, the third for love, and the fourth for luck. They say that if you find a four leaf clover on St. Patrick's Day then you'll double your luck. I'll look again today, but I wonder if any special luck will come to one found on the day before.

  I added Ryan to my name to sound more Irish. I didn't make it up. It is the last name of my great grandfather. I told you it's in my blood!

To those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide. 

 I found this Irish blessing I liked, I hope you do as well.

  "May you always have...

    Walls for the winds, A roof for the rain

    Tea beside the fire, Laughter to cheer you

    Those you love near you

    And all your heart might desire."

"Health"

      I'll be having a little St. Patrick's Day shindig over on my facebook page if you'd like to join me. Please? :) http://facebook.com/kellyryanwatson

      Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day!

    

  

Extremes

    I've had this picture saved for some time now. I was going to write a little something to go with it. Probably something that I didn't have any business writing. When I started writing a different rant earlier the words wouldn't come. When they did they were jumbled. So I'll try that one at another time. 

    This is a picture of the pier at Tybee Island. Tybee is about 12 miles from where I live. The sky is so dramatic. The lightning just intensifies it, doesn't it? I thought this was a somewhat rare occurrence, but now that I am here I realize it really isn't. 

    Sometimes the bright red sun rising just over the horizon seems so big I think it cannot be real. It truly is a sight to behold, brightening the beginning of my ten hour work day. It makes me feel peaceful. 

    That is the pretty. Let's get back to the pic above. The more ugly. The days that the sun isn't so huge. The days that the pretty, bright red, warm blob is nowhere to be found. Yes. Living so close to the coast brings a whole lot of weather that I'm not familiar with. We get storms that come from the Gulf of Mexico and scoot across Florida and up to us. We get storms from the west, north, and even the east. 
  
    The first real storm I took notice of came from the west. We knew it was coming, but we didn't know we'd end up in a tornado watch. I was at work and made it inside before the deluge of rain came. And boy did it come. The wind picked up to speeds I hadn't seen in years. Plants toppled over. Signs bent, giving up their fight, hoping their anchors would hold them in place. Stray bags or wrappers fluttered through the air. Then the rain came. It was a sideways rain. Sideways. 

    I've seen plenty of seasons in different parts of the country now. I'm taking this one in, and learning. Meanwhile, back where the rest of my family is they are experiencing a blizzard. A few weeks ago they had recorded 205 inches of snow for the season. And it keeps falling. 

    I'll take the freaky winds and sideways rain, and the sun that seems to take up half the sky. 

    Are you coastal, mountainous, prairie, or other? What types of extreme weather do you deal with? What brings you a certain sense of peace?

W.P.I.-  Buttercup is one of the more deadly garden plants. Buttercup commonly grows in grassy patches with poor drainage, and may frequently be found by children who use it in games that involve touching it to the skin. The goal is to experience a momentary red mark on the skin, as the brilliant yellow flowers release a toxin induces temporary rash symptoms. Buttercup is far more dangerous, however. The plant is capable of poisoning grazing animals that eat it, causing serious gastrointestinal toxicity. Ingestion by humans may result in a painful death resulting from organ and nervous system intoxication. Beauty is clearly in the eye of the beholder, not the handler of this killer flower.

Calm Before the Storm

Last week's frost on azalea leaves.

      Sunday morning I went out on the back deck to check the temperature before I headed out to do some shopping. I was pleasantly surprised to feel comfortable in my shorts and tee. I sat down in one of the chairs and let myself relax and absorb the warmth. Just a couple days ago it was cold here in Savannah (40's.) Days off I try to let my body recover as much as I can so I cherished this time.

      I sat in the chair and watched the Spanish moss do a dance in the wind. I let the rays of sun sink into me. I let the tranquility lull me. I closed my eyes for a minute or two, breathing in the scents of Spring, exhaling any negative. 

      Suddenly I heard bagpipes. My eyes remained closed, but a huge smile came to my face. 

      It is almost St. Patrick's day in Savannah. For those of you that don't know, Savannah hosts the second biggest St. Patrick's Day parade in the country. IN. THE. COUNTRY. That means there will be a ton of people packed into this 2.2 mile city. I've heard the horror stories already. 

      I'm kind of torn right now. I'm excited to be spending my favorite holiday in a place that holds it in such high regard. But I'm not a big crowd person. At any time. My neighbors have put horror stories in my head. And I'm almost scared. All I can say is that I don't plan on leaving the house that day. The day before I have to. Which is something I will blog about within a couple weeks. A story within a story there. ;) 

      And so the countdown begins. Will I love it or hate it? Will I plan an escape for next years St. Patty's day shenanigans? Who knows. Right now I'm basking in the sun and enjoying the bagpipes. :)

      Are you Irish? What holiday do you look forward to the most? Do you enjoy large crowds, or do you prefer peace and tranquility?

Customer Service at its Worst

      Remember the days when you walked into a store or restaurant and were met by a friendly smile and simple "Hello"? When is the last time that has happened to you? I gotta tell you, I've been on a roll lately with finding places that have had the worst customer service. So instead of holding it in and letting it fester I decided I would rant once again. You know holding things in isn't healthy, right? 

      The other night Charmed and I walked into a popular restaurant. The hostess stand is right there where you walk in. The hostess stood there, looked at us, but paid attention to a co-worker who was walking by and telling her she loved the hostess's hair. We stood there waiting for two minutes while these two teens talked about hair, outfits, whatever. This red headed Irish girl's temper simmered. 

      Later on that evening we stopped into a store. There were three people behind the counter that I needed something from. I stood waiting as the one girl turned around and started talking and laughing with her co-workers. She did some of her busy work as the line behind me grew. I hate being ugly, but sometimes I cannot help it. When the guy in line behind me started pacing back and forth I had to step forward and say, "Excuse me, do you work here?" I knew that she did. She knew she was doing us wrong. She ignored us for several minutes while she cackled and jostled around behind the counter. 

      Believe it or not I actually have one more. These all happened in the past week or two, so when a compilation happens I have to take notice. 

      If you follow you know we are new to this area. I asked a co-worker who she uses for a dog groomer. She told me, so I went home and looked them up on the internet. Their site had an option for emailing them with questions or setting up an appointment, etc. We sent an inquiry. We never heard anything back. So after a week Charmed called them. After being put on hold Charmed was hung up on. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR. 

      Maybe I should write a book on ways to run a business into the ground. Or the art of hiring people. Maybe I should be mad at the managers or owners. All I know is that the respect lost yesterday is evident in the employees of today. 

      Have you experienced customer service at its worst lately? Care to share your story? Why do you think that customer service has deteriorated over the years? Do you think our patience has shortened or has service gotten that bad? 

W.P.I. - I had the good fortune of running into a beautiful hanging basket at work. After a little research I found out it was called a Lipstick plant. If you have a bright spot in you home or office and want a graceful draping plant that will bloom off and on all year, the lipstick is your plant. Although a relative of the somewhat finicky African violet, a lipstick is a very easy care indoor flowering plant. When given the right amount of light and not too much water, it produces numerous red or orange small tubular flowers throughout the year. Not only the flowers are colorful, the leaves can come in light green, dark green, or green and maroon. Hang it from the ceiling, place it in a wall sconce, or sit it on a table, you will love this plant!

Mailbox Telemarketing (Mail-e-marketing?)

      Remember the days that telemarketers ruled the phone lines? Sometimes they still do, I guess. We got rid of our land line so I am pretty much free of the trash calls. I have found another form of annoyance that I am going to rant about today. It is what I consider mailbox telemarketing.

      I used to go to the mailbox and get the mail daily. Then I realized that not many good things come in the mail. Once in a while a magazine comes along that I like. But that is once or twice a month. All those other days the box gets filled with bills, etc. that we've asked be sent via electronically, and said companies continue to send paper statements. (That could be a whole different rant, but I won't.) So if the box isn't full of things you've asked not be sent it gets filled with this junk...

      Once a week these beautiful advertisements show up in the mailbox. As far as I know there is no way to stop it, like the early days of telemarketing. I don't use these restaurants. I don't shop at Rent-a-Center. And another mattress store, really? C'mon, people. 

      Stop littering my mailbox with this garbage. Every.damn.week. 

      Am I the only one who thinks this is mailbox telemarketing? Am I the only one thinking these "advertisements" are a waste of paper? And am I the only one who would like to ask the post office to stop clogging up my box with this crap? 

      HOW DO I MAKE IT STOP????????????????????????????????????????

      

      I don't need Gerber Life Insurance. Really. Stop the unnecessary slaughter of trees. :) Stop making me want to pull my hair out. I take these damn advertisements out of my mailbox and promptly put them in the recycle bin. It is nothing but a waste of time and space.

      At least back in Podunk these advertisement packs would contain the local grocery stores sales for the week. Here in the city there is not one ad for a grocery store. Just a bunch of stores I never shop, restaurants that continue to fatten up America, and useless life insurance junk. 

      Do you receive these ad packs? What is one good thing you get in the mail? Am I being too... critical?