Live Free or Die

There are a lot of things going on going on in the world today that I'm finding to be oh-so-interesting.  My own personal life has taken a few interesting turns in the past few days as well, but nothing near as interesting as pirates and PETA!  I want to first start off talking about the PETA/Lindsay Lohan incident.  I find the whole thing so strange.  Ok, real quick, for all of you who don't know what I'm referring to, Lindsay Lohan was wearing a fur coat and an activist representing PETA threw a bag of flour on her.  This is an action shot of the incident.  If someone threw a bag of ANYTHING on me while I was walking somewhere I would have to say that gives me full right to give a beat down.  I agree with PETA that harming animals is wrong, I would never want to hear of any animal being mistreated BUT that does not mean that I would go as far as assaulting someone because of their choices in fashion.  You do have the right to wear whatever you choose and you do not have the right to assault someone.  Everyone has their own ideas, thoughts, beliefs and rights to choose, that's the American way.  If our thoughts are different, you should be able to respect that differing opinion.  I think that when PETA or any other organization or another person reacts in such a disrespectful manner it makes them look bad! It takes all the attention off the cause and onto the act of "protest".  Then again here I am talking about it! Am I the only one that thinks PETA goes too far?  I've heard some other crazy stories of them protesting, I, again, do not think wearing fur is OK, in fact I think it's pompous BUT PETA should try and find another way to get their point across.  Do they really think Lindsay Lohan cares if that coat is ruined? She's going to just go out and by a new one!  On to pirates...

Somali pirates have apparently taken over an oil tanker!  I don't know too much about what's going on, but I do know that as of right now the U.S. is choosing not to intervene.  Pirates?  Craziness! 

UPDATE: I will be home 11/28-12/1 and 12/23-12/26!  Can't wait to see everyone! 

 I stopped into Home Depot this evening after work to pick up a couple tools I was in need for and as soon as I walked through those sliding doors BAM! holiday spirit was all around me!  Even though my religious views are a bit unconventional I still manage to get geeked when the holidays come around.  As I strolled through the aisles of Santas, garland, lights, trees, wreaths and wrapping paper I couldn't help but reminisce of the infamous Ugly Christmas Sweater Party the roomies and I had last year!  Oh, it was so much fun, even just preparing for the party was fantastic!  I miss those times...I miss you girls! 

Now that I've been completely overtaken by holiday spirit I've managed to get all of my holiday plans in line.  Thanksgiving I will be here in NH and I'll have dinner with a few close friends out here, we haven't decided if we will just preorder a dinner or go out to eat somewhere else.  Either way it will be glorious!  I love thanksgiving...especially my mom's cooking!  The day after Thanksgiving I will be flying out to MI to have dinner with my family, and two special guests...Liz & the Duke!  I can't wait to see my family and Liz, it's been way too long.  We are going to drive up to Cheboygan and have dinner over the weekend at the house up there.  Wango has to stay home with a house-sitter, I don't think she can handle another weekend with my mom's crazy cat Charlie. 

Once Thanksgiving is over, the really fun stuff starts!  I'm getting a tree, and oh yah, while I'm in Michigan I'm shipping all of my holiday decorations out to NH to decorate with. I'm going to decorate the place like the friggin' North Pole.  I've even made plans to go down to Boston to see the tree lighting then have dinner and drinks.  That should be a lot of fun, cold I'm sure, but definitely memorable.  This picture is from last year and it looks like a blast.  Get it? Blast?  Yep.  Got it.  I'm not really sure yet how long I will be in Michigan for during the week of Christmas, I just know that my whole family will be there so I want to stay as long as possible.  Kelly comes home the second week in December!!

Thee past few days at work have been a real test for me.  I'm caretaking (covering) a territory down in Boston right now, it ends in about a week and a half.  It's been such a challenge for me, from the crazy traffic every morning, afternoon and night to the never before seen problems in accounts.  Yesterday was so bad I thought about crying or just cutting my losses and just straight punching someone in the neck.  When you work by yourself all day, you can lose perspective on what you're doing and what you're expected to do.  After a nice pep talk from a coworker, I ended up not shedding any tears and no necks were punched.  I don't know what I would do if people from work didn't call me to vent on me, that's the only time I let myself vent!  I survived another day.  This job isn't easy, it's demanding physically, mentally and intellectually.  You have to be able to gain the trust of 150+ people who have never met you, sell them an idea then sell them the product and at the same time promise them the world as far as servicing their equipment.  Last night I got a call from a hotel down in downtown Boston at 8 p.m. and it was thisclose to me driving 2 hours down there just to show one of my customers how to properly run their machine.  Thankfully, after some shoddy Spanish (on my part) was relayed over the phone, we ended up on the same page.  It's just very challenging sometimes, but then again that's what makes it so rewarding.  I know i say I love my job a lot, but I do, I mean I'd say it's pretty rare to find a job that you can get excited about.  Helping people with their issues is a blast.  Today, just when my day was taking a turn for the worse a customer, whom I had met only 20 mins prior said that most satisfying thing to me.  He said, "It was so great meeting you Meg, I'm not normally impressed by strangers or salesmen, but you impressed me.  Thank you for taking the time to help us over here, you really impressed me."  Unbelievable!  If you really listen to the people around you, people say nice things like that all the time.  It's the little things, like, "thank you" or "hope you have a great day and weekend" are really great to hear.  But you have to actually listen to others and really hear what they say to be able to enjoy it.  Be present. 

Today I have been moody.  Very moody.  There's no in between, either I hate you or I love you.  Work was hell-ish, along with traffic, and my lack of patience didn't help me any.  I always managed to put on a happy face when I was expected to, but as soon as I got in my car or hung up the phone it was like...I was a different person.  Just one of those days I guess.  These leads me into my gripe.  Today, while I was navigating through yet another lovely Boston traffic jam I hear emergency vehicles approaching.  I look up and I see the lights, the trucks and all that jazz.  Now, even though I was on the opposite side of a two-way traffic road, I still got over.  I wasn't moving but I for sure made a conscious effort to at least try and point my car at the shoulder.  I see more emergency vehicles coming so I stay over.  I start to look around and NO ONE is getting over.  People are driving around me, people are making no effort to get out of the way.  These are emergency vehicles attempting to save someone's life...could be yours someday!  You have no way of predicting where these trucks/ambulances/police officers are going to to turn or stop, so-you-get-out-of-the-way!!  People could be dying somewhere and in desperate need of medical attention but the ambulance driver is a little busy honking at celts4lfe who obviously feels that he has the right away.  Would it kill ya to get the hell out of the way, so these people can do their jobs? And save lives? And help people?  I mean seriously, If I'm hurt, or if someone I know is hurt, I don't want to wait longer for medical attention because of the Masshole drivers! 

This for sure did not help my moodiness.  Ever have one of these days?  I know I'm not the only one.  Hey, if you gotta gripe or if you have something on your mind that the general public does JUST to piss you off-you can gripe here!  Let it out!  It helps, I feel better already.   

Setting aside a specific day for our veterans is a great way to celebrate those who sacrifice their lives, and lives of their loved ones, for our nation and those who are still living and fighting for liberty and harmony. November 11 is the day to honor the U.S. veterans for their love of the U.S.A, nationalism and willingness to provide service for the common people and sacrifice for the common good. It was known that November 11, 1919 is the date of the first declaration of Armistice Day by US President Woodrow Wilson. In November of 1954, the Congress revised an act which replaced “Armistice” with “Veterans” and then, the observance has been known as Veterans Day.

Thanks to everyone who has served and is still serving our country! Thank you so much!!