Financial Mishaps

OH OH OH OH! So, now I know why I'm supposed to use the little worksheet to balance my checkbook. I've been very conscientious for the past six months. Trying to be responsible for a change and all that. Every few days I check my online statement to make sure I haven't forgotten to write down any ATM charges. I go through my checkbook every other week to see what checks are still out in la la land. But I hadn't gone through with the little book.

So now I have my fabulous ledger, and I'm basically transcribing all of my accounts into it. First, I found a $20 addition error in the bank's favor. Darn it.

Now I have a bigger snafu, that's taken me three hours to figure out what I did exactly. It seems that I took out a $100 cash back that I didn't write down about two months ago. Then for the crowning achievement, I saw some "shopping" money that I'd actually paid cash for....at the time I'm sure it made sense to put in that missing hundred dollars as shopping. Well, I found it when I was perusing my checkbook a month later, and said to myself, "I paid cash for that! Free money" So I credit myself that money. So, for those that followed that and realised the ramifications...I'm now officially $200 in the hole once everything goes through. Crap. At least, for a change, I am aware of the problem before the overdraft kicks in, and 2, (also for a change) I have money in savings to cover the money I've now spent. Twice. Drat.

Oh so tired.

Gave an 35 minute concert last night in the "lounge" (sounds nicer than 'bar' doesn't it?). I've never had so many encores. Six, I think. And then several groups wanted to buy me a drink. I forgot I'd been too busy singing to eat anything. Blech....only two fruity little things and I'm rather.....unwell...this morning. Blech. Blech. Blech. Reminds me why I don't do that very often. Blargh....stupid stupid stupid. It was fun singing though. I forget, sometimes, how much I love doing it. And it is nice to have people clustered around telling you how wonderful you are. Liking that! If only we had cuter uniforms. And some makeup...by midnight I was a little bit flushed and shiny! I prefer to perform looking cool as a cucumber....and slightly aloof....or something. So I sang, and handed out my cards, and enjoyed being fawned, instead of run over.

Doing things the Judy Garland way...

Last night I once again had to resort to sleeping pills. I haven't had to do that since the week before Thanksgiving. I only have one pill left, so off to the health food store after work I go. Apparently Matt Leblanc also shops there. Now that I know that, I'm going to spend more time in the supplements section. My favorite combo is one "sleep aid" pill with a cal/mag and vitamin C back. Listen to me talking like a bar wench! I'm going to have to start some time of multivitamin regumin in the mornings too. And perhaps buying actual breakfast food...a bagel at work is about half an hour late.

I know it would be far better for my system to get up, have breakfast, do some yoga to wake myself up, devotions, and then get ready for the day. Ha. That would mean waking up at 4:30. Doing this my way (get up, jump in shower, head to coffee place before work) lets me sleep in until 5:45. Woohoo. Believe me though, those extra minutes make all the difference.

Logic says that the two hours between one job and the other would be perfect time for excercise and devotions. Body says: sleep.

Logic also says, "go right to sleep after work at 10, or 11, or 12....Body says, "ha ha. Don't want to....1am sounds better."

Curse it all....Sleeping aids really don't help a person go to sleep, but they do keep you asleep once you're there. And thank heavens they recommended one that doesn't give a hangover. If I wanted to be sleepy the first few hours of work, I'd just stay au natural...And to stay awake at the night job...ah yes...the wonders of EmergenC's -- the all vitamin upper...fabulous stuff that. Mix it in with some fruit juice, and you're both exhausted and wide awake simultaneously! But it takes two sleeping pills then to get down from them.

Seriously...if anyone can think of a better way to do this, New Year's resolutions are coming....

Baylor's PBS Broadcast

Hey Guys, if you want to see pain and humiliation, check out the Baylor University Christmas Concert. I was in the front row, and wound up on camera a lot. Partly because of my wonderful riser placement, and partly because I (thanks to years of Melody Lane) can smile for 15 hours of filming. And I was smart enough to remember to do my hair the same way both days of shooting, and kept the same lipstick color. So watch it. It'll be fun for you. I just want to see if I look as bored as I felt. (If I had working archives today I'd bring back some of the posts I made around that time last year....oh there were so many rant-fests!)

Friday, December 06, 2002: (republished)

Wow, let me pause a moment to unscrew my smile. Heeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaarrrrghghg. Ok. Better now. I just got done with a recording session for our Christmas Concert PBS premier (set for christmas, 2003). We're being videotaped. So we have to look happy, and joyful, and greatful to be there.

ha. Dr. Bailey looked at the dress rehearsal that they taped to fix problems, and he said it looked like we were chained to the risers. Pretty close. We were just trying to make an acurate portrayal. We recorded in front of an audience, and then locked them in so they couldn't leave for our re-recording of several songs. Ha. When they paid for their tickets, I bet they didn't know they'd be held hostage. I'm sure whoever watched the concert next year will really enjoy it. It will look great, and be very uplifting. Look for me up and to the right of the mezzo soloist smiling away. Looking happy, and joyful and greatful to be there.

Especially during the symphonic pieces that we were, essentially, a curtain to mask the risers. No other reason for us to be there -- we could have filed off and come back on after three movements of Vivaldi, but no. We had ugly risers to mask. So we stood there looking happy, and joyful, and greatful to be there.

Especially on the camera close ups -- then we were positively glowing. At least during the Forest scene from Tchaikowsky's Nutcracker I could envision all of the beautiful dancing. I made up whole ballets this week in dress rehearsals. So, it wasn't too bad tonight...but tomorrow we have to hold the audience longer to make up all the mistakes they find tomorrow in the review of tonight's performance. Oh goodie. (ok, now can we do measure 30-35 of the Sir Krisemas piece...ok that was great..thanks) Oh, and in between concert segments, we have a sing along with the audience. But...someone forgot that WE don't have words in front of us (the concert is memorized). So here we are three verses into "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" -- and the cameras are doing closeups of us going: Hail the ...hm hm....prince of peace...la la la la righteousness....light and life to something bring..........watermellon in his wings......mild he something something by...la la la la hmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmm la la la la la la la la.....HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING! GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING! That ought to look wonderful. Ok, I'm going to bed. I have a recital dress to finish for Jen's dress rehearsal tomorrow afternoon. Then I have to head to part two of happy, and joyful, and greatful to be there.

It's the Thought that Counts

"Did you have a good Christmas?" they ask the girl who's been sitting behind a desk fourteen hours of the last twenty-four.

"When, exactly?" she wishes to reply.

Merry Christmas to all.....

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope today finds you with plenty of relaxation, family gathered round, and a good nap thrown in.

After making it to the midnight mass last night, I'm in a bit more of a Christian mindset about Christmas. I found the priest's sermon a tad naive, as he described how a sentimental story brings tears to even the most callous person at the holidays. I must confess, I haven't seen many gruff old men misting up at the tables I'VE been waiting...but I'll give points for creativity...Oops, slipping back into cynicism. I'll quit while I'm ahead.

Merry Christmas again!

Eleven is nearly here. The long vigil is over. The inn is quiet, save the sound of the waiters clearing the last of the tables from the lingering guests. Outside all is dark. The only break is a strand of christmas lights around the porch of the cafe across the street. Lady Marmalade filters in from the kitchen.

In a few minutes I will go back home and pick up andrea, and we'll rush to the sing-a-long at the Old Mission Santa Ines and the midnight mass. Neither of us are Catholic, but its the only service late enough. We'll both be up before six tomorrow. Work two shifts, then fall into bed. In the few hours between jobs we'll head to Ken and Grandma's to open a few presents. The rest we'll save for later.

I wish everyone could cook at home for Christmas. Gather their families around them in their own houses. Enjoying being hospitable and hosting. Instead, around here, precious few have the luxury of a day off. For the shopkeepers, and waiters, and clerks, and drivers, can look forward to impatience and rudeness and clamour all of this best of days. We did choose our lot, I suppose. But wouldn't it make sense on just one day for everything to close. So everyone could equally enjoy their families and relaxation...and not just another day of drudgery and frustration. And the drunks that just won't leave at the end of the night. When all you want to do is go home, walk right past the Christmas tree and stocking still brimming with presents you've neither had the time nor energy to open, and sleep until St. Patricks day. But the next morning you've got to check out the post-Christmas hangover crowd, with their children wild from the sugar-high. Or go to work three hours early to make signs for the day-after-Christmas sales. Or wait on tables who have the post-holiday-my-presents-weren't-as-great-as-the-ones-I-gave-blues.

So bah-humbug everyone! I'm sure my spirits will align themselves at church this evening...and I'll be able to celebrate the season with the best of them....until the first idiot tomorrow night complains about how crappy house wine is. You GET what you PAY FOR!

On the plus side, we do get time-and-a-half.....Merry Christmas!

Part Eight:

To make my french hen look more like a chicken or a goose...that is the question...

Stocking Saga, Part Seven:

My goose does not lay golden eggs, but freshwater pearl instead. And even she can't be too proud for a silk grass nest....if she's that picky, tis the season for foie gras....

Part Six:

My Lord of the Dance is unhapily missing a leg, due to my running a bit short of teal ribbon. Perhaps he is not mearly a-leaping, but the little tin soldier as well. Hopefully he will stick to the story, as the Disney version did not.