Rattling Cages is Pretty Stupid

I’m going to be a bad employee tomorrow. I’m doing a no-call, no-show. Though technically I turned in my time off request for Sunday and Monday MONTHS ago. My boss just claims he never got them.

Just like he claims he didn’t my time off request for the week of Thanksgiving either. Which is total bull shit because we even talked about it when I handed him the paper stating such.

I’m just tired of fighting this abusive, screaming, belittling temper tantrums he has on a daily basis. *shakes her head*

He seriously almost got into a fist fight with the delivery guy last Tuesday. His screaming got to the point that the shift manager at the time was seconds away from calling the police.

Monday, I’m calling HR and lodging a formal compliant.

When I reminded him that I was supposed to have this week off, he threw his papers across his desk, stood up while shouting how incompetent I am, and took a menacing step towards me.

I’m proud of myself that I automatically went into my fight stance when he threatened me. I think it shocked the shit out of him because I was completely ready to drop him and then walk out. He paused mid-rant to look at my fist that was cocked and ready to go. I calmly told him that I refused to tolerate anyone speaking to me the way he was and suggested that we continue the conversation once he was calm and rational once more. And I walked away to continue my job.

I really want to complete a full year there.
And honestly, I absolutely adore my co-workers, so I have no desire to leave. Other than the absolute shit way Darrell treats ALL of us. I’m not special here in this treatment. Every single one of us has some horror story similar or WORSE than my most recent run-in with him.

Hell, I even thought of just putting in for a transfer. We have TONS of stores in the area. But to do so....yeah, I would have to ask Darrell first. And then HE decides if he’s ok with that. And THEN HE gives a review of my performance to the store I want to transfer to. And apparently, he’s known for giving such shitty reviews that no one will take us. So yeah, he has all that power.

The man really has no idea the sleeping beast he’s fucking with right now.
I’m a hard worker. I’m steadfast and loyal and it takes a whole lot to rattle my cage.

But he’s doing it.

And he better prepare himself for the shit storm he’s about to incur.

Bursting at the Seams

With all the stress I’ve been encountering here recently, I’d gotten to the point where, even if the day wasn’t stressful, I was still on edge.

I was waiting for the next attack.
The next belittling.
The next temper tantrum.
All from my boss at Starbucks.
And why shouldn’t I expect it? I’ve received some combination of the above, THREE days in a roll this week.

But today. Today, I didn’t have to work at Starbucks. Today, I had my morning all to myself.

And the weather was beautiful. 50 degrees and clear, blue, ENDLESS Texas skies.

So I took Holly and I for a walk through our wooded trails.

The bird life was astounding. Flitting everywhere.
Squirrels romped in the fallen, crunch autumn leaves.
Lizards lounged in sunny spots on the sidewalk, blissed out by the warmth (it’s been down in the 30s for the past week or so).
Even butterflies were flittering around.

And best of all?

No humans.
That means, no thugs, no hobos, not even joggers that want to exchange “pleasantries” (which honestly, just piss me off).
I had the wooded areas, with all the nature bursting at the seems, and no people to TAINT it.

Holly’s not used to walking so much, so she really was dragging at the end. But it seemed perfect, as it forced me to also walk at a slower pace. To really draw out this magical time for myself.

And the stress? It’s gone. I’m at peace again.

Now, I know it won’t last forever. I will eventually have to go back to Starbucks – but lucky me, I have ALL of next week off. It was so worth the hissy fit it provoked.

Today's Adorable-ness

Isn’t my nephew just too stinkin’ cute?

Those massive blue eyes just kill me!
Can’t wait to finally get to meet this lil guy during Thanksgiving!

Goals for My Next Year

33 Goals for my 33rd Year

1. photograph and document my extensive feather collection

2. get a [special] feather for [an on-line buddy]  (info has been modified, as said buddy does have access to this blog, and I want this to be a BIG surprise)

3. move out of our current apartment

4. decorate altar for Sabbats and Esbats (and any other holy day, or just random day I feel

            like making an altar for)

5. learn to make delicious Madeleine's

6. return trip to Wolf Park

7. pay off Firestone credit card completely

8. read 50 books

9. attend a public Pagan ritual

10. take some form of self-defense class

11. complete the on-line Tarot Class

12. celebrate my 9th anniversary of being Self-Inflicted Harm free

13. take photos of hubby and I in the bluebonnets

14. visit a new-to-me Zoo/Sanctuary

15. see 4 movies in the movie theater

16. build a fort of pillows and blankets

17. make a small prepper kit for the car

18. learn how to sharpen knives

19. shoot a gun

20. meet an on-line buddy in person

21. put some lavender in my hair

22. deep clean both closets

23. purchase 2 new sets of sheets for my bed

24. get some sort of pillow/comfort foam for my bed

25. get an oil diffuser to aid sleep

26. get a tattoo

27. eat at 7 new-to-us restaurants

28. go to a DFW Herpetological Society meeting

29. make candles

30. complete 10 scrapbook pages in Leviathan's baby book

31. get all of the genealogy I have up on Ancestry.com and share with family members

32. purchase 6 new tops that are NOT t-shirts

33. send in a secret to Post Secret

7 Big/Chaos Goals

1. make and maintain 72-hour Bug Out Bags for myself and David

2. make and maintain 72-hour prep for our home

3. try out 27 new recipes

4. dinner with a friend every month

5. save $4k towards Polar Bear Trip

6. create 1 Mandala a week

7. go on a Vision Quest

Most Awesome Students Ever

No seriously. I have some of the most awesome students ever.

My 4th & 5th grade boys decided it would be the coolest thing EVER to go through lost and found and drag out all the pink, girly, kindergarten sweatshirts and wear them.

Freaking hilarious!

And then, they wanted to wear them for the rest of the day! * dies laughing *

Totally made this not-so-hot week so much better.

Animals

I am utterly in love with the song Animals by Maroon 5. And the video? *swoons*

Sure, I don’t like the fact that it’s promoting stalker behavior.

But I have to admit....there is something sexy seeing the lead singer smearing blood on himself. Maybe I’ve watched too much Dexter, and Vampire Diaries, and all the various horror movies. *chuckles* And maybe I’m just warped. I’m fine with that.

Lyrics to Animals
Baby I’m preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals

Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals
Baby I’m

So what you trying to do to me
It’s like we can’t stop we’re enemies
But we get along when I’m inside you
You’re like a drug that’s killing me
I cut you out entirely
But I get so high when I’m inside you

Yeah you can start over you can run free
You can find other fish in the sea
You can pretend it’s meant to be
But you can’t stay away from me
I can still hear you making that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend that it was me
But no

Baby I’m preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals

Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals
Baby I’m

So if I run it’s not enough
You’re still in my head forever stuck
So you can do what you wanna do
I love your lies I’ll eat ‘em up
But don’t deny the animal
That comes alive when I’m inside you

Yeah you can start over you can run free
You can find other fish in the sea
You can pretend it’s meant to be
But you can’t stay away from me
I can still hear you making that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend that it was me
But no

Baby I’m preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals

Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals
Baby I’m

Don’t tell no lie, lie lie lie
You can’t deny, ny ny ny
The beast inside, side side side
Yeah yeah yeah

No girl don’t lie, lie lie lie
You can’t deny, ny ny ny
The beast inside, side side side
Yeah yeah yeah

Yo…
Woahh…
Woahh…
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals
Just like animals (yeahh…)
Animals (yeahh…)
Like animals (yeahh…)
Owwww

Baby I’m preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals

Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals
Baby I’m

Don’t tell no lie, lie lie lie
You can’t deny, ny ny ny
The beast inside, side side side
Yeah yeah yeah

No girl don’t lie, lie lie lie
You can’t deny, ny ny ny
The beast inside, side side side
Yeah yeah yeah