Sunday Social | A little walk down my TV's past

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

 

These are all about TV shows from the past!

1. What was your favorite TGIF show?

I think Full House is my official favorite, with Step by Step as a close second 

2. What was your favorite Saturday morning TV show?

 I don't remember many Saturday shows, I think I was always itching to get outside instead... I do remember being VERY young and watching Mickey Mousercise 

3. Mickey Mouse Club or Kids Incorporated.?
 MMC! Little Justin, Little Ryan, Little Brittney was even cute then.

4. Zack Morris or AC Slater?
Zack Morris... Always have liked a bit of a bad boy and I totally wanted to be Kelly Kapowski

5. Which show would you love to see remade? (For example, Boy Meets World is back as Girl Meets World)
I really love that Boy Meets World is coming back. I think it would be fun to see the Full House group together again... Stephanie raising 3 boys? 

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above, and find a collection of other blogs to go visit.

My first and Best work family

What is it about certain work places that just make everyone seem like family. In 2005 I took a weekend job at a hotel, while I went to school in San Francisco during the week week. Just a weekend job to earn a little cash to pay for my Starbucks addiction.

The hotel's goal was to provide a "home away from home" which it did well, however some people got a little too comfortable. Like the group that brought a case of beer to the lobby, put their bare feet up and proceeded to camp out there until midnight. We often had people with far to little clothes on. And guests who experiences a few too many wineries that day. We saw highschool proms and were the headquarters for 1500 runners of a local marathon.

We had couples fight and want separate rooms, we had traveling colleagues who wanted connecting rooms and we had a professional sports team who moved in for over a month and created pure chaos. I helped parents give their kids with Easter baskets and letters from Santa. I helped husbands surprise their wives from 3 states away, and boyfriends get down on one knee for the ever epic "yes".

Among all the celebrations, the madness, the events, there was something so much more memorable for me. Among the smiling faces that made your reservations and called a cab for dinner, ensured your wake up calls were set, solved every travel dilemma, met every preference. Those smiling faces who were yelled at, blamed for lost luggage, and expected to do the impossible. Those smiling faces, are now these smiling faces.

and they're some of the most epic souls I have ever known. The 5 people in this picture haven't been together in over 7 years. It was wonderful to hear about new positions, new kids, and new spouses. This team came together this weekend to bid a proper farewell to one of our own. One of our sisters from work, one of the girls who worked with us to manage these crazy nights, long days, and all of the travelers. 

This group pulled together to check in dozens of people in no time, we solved problems and kept our sanity. We learned, together, to meet all brand standards and then take a verbal beating. We listened to people who were upset with their room, their delayed flight, their lost bags, or their drunk girlfriend. We listened, made it better, and sent them on their way. There's something about having a work family that makes it a little easier to go in every day. This family made it easier to leave my daughter at home and go back to work. In the end these people made it all better, fixed me and then sent me on my way.

Do you have a work family?

Do your coworkers make your job easier?

Letting the Crazy In

So Tuesdays tend to be my nights "off". P goes to grandma's and I get to focus on me a bit. My honey works until 10 or 11 so I tend to break into his house (also known as borrowing his keys, with his and his roommates permission) and hang out on his couch. With TV edited movies and sitcoms in syndication. I write and catch up with my favorite bloggers. I appreciate the quiet, and lack of obligation to clean something. So in tonight's glow of Big Bang Theory and getting snuggled by Roommates cat; I ran past the upstairs window to see people on the front stoop. Three odd nomads in from their migration of California.

As Arty, his roommate got home, and a few others came by, we were quickly settled to spend some time catching up and somehow got to telling tales from high school and college. Days long before we all knew each other. The sight made me chuckle a group of kids that never knew eachother then, that lived on opposing corners of campus, well and different campuses for most of us, who strangely seem to have similar stories to tell and views of the last 10 to15 years.

To be honest, we looked a little like the breakfast club sitting there. However there was one thing that we all seemed to have in common that held true. Social construct was not something any of us held ourselves to.We weren't the kids that wanted to fit the mold, we had no desire to plan pep rallies or make the Varsity squad in anything.We'd rather make memories and make things last.

We all spent weekends catching live shows in small clubs, really connecting with strangers, and trying things we may never get the chance to again. (Riding shopping carts down the most crooked road in Napa anyone?) I realized these friends now, like the friends I had in Highschool, taught me that I want to have memories. I want stories to tell my future teenagers that make them want to take a chance on themselves. Maybe go for a night hike rather than to the football game, pickup book instead just an iPhone, watch the sunrise rather than pass-out drunk at 2am. The best stories we had, the real memories, the things that made us smile were the things that started out as crazy ideas. Those moments that made the 'cool kids' think you were nuts.

POP - Sound go Round 2012

Even now, when I leave after a full workday bound for a full night in the city. Plan to go to the desert for 7 days with nothing but what I can pack. When my daughter and I wear feather boas and dance around the house. When I looked in the mirror, 7 years ago, and decided that I princess and I would be just fine alone. These are moments when I forgot convention, I skipped the hesitation that comes with being judged and I threw the door open to crazy. Try it! Next time the voice in your head proclaims "that's crazy" answer it with "that's what I like about the idea."

The Tough Stuff

Did you ever read the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul books? I did, 1, 2, 3, 4 and the journal. The other 30 some-odd titles came out when I was in college and had no time to read anything that wasn't a 5 pound text book. As much as I appreciated the funny stories and the lessons learned, reading the acts of kindness and the leaps of faith these kids took on each other, there was one section that I prepared myself for. The Tough Stuff. If you're not familiar with the books they dedicated a section of the book, and in later publication separate books, to the stuff that's just hard. Losses, illness, and suicide.

I distinctly remember not starting this section right away, especially if I was reading at school or in public. Sometimes I would simply get up and change rooms, settle in my bed rather than on the couch, or in the back yard. Somewhere I felt safe but alone. I read all the time, many books have death and trauma, many books had sad stories and some were even true. These were different. These happened to kids like me, in a high school just like mine. These stories hit close to home, these stories were different.

Now why all the prep. Well you are being warned to prepare yourself, or runaway now. This past week hit way to close to home with a story just out of The Tough Stuff. I promise not to go into too much detail however this is not a happy post and you're welcome to move right along. See you later, I'm not offended I swear.

Really... last chance. Still with me? Okay here we go:

I wish each and every one of you could know Jon. Jon was a fixure of a bartender and patron of downtown Napa's bar scene. He reminded me of the "good ol barkeep" so often depicted in movies.  Charismatic and charming and could talk the pants off of just about anyone he wanted. He always had a joke or a tale, he could recommend a perfect whiskey cocktail for you, even if you only drank gin and could mix an old fashioned that would make any 75 year old tip $20. He was known to lick faces and greet his friends with "fuck you" and that was the sincerest form of affection from him.

Now as you've probably guessed the wonderful, knowledgeable local, that I'm describing isn't very Tough. Yesterday should have been Jon's 32nd birthday. While his Facebook is filled with birthday wishes, they're all qualified. Qualified with "you should be here" and "it'd be better if you could celebrate with us". Approximately 1 week ago, Jon made a decision that affected each and every one of his friends. He chose to take his own life.

I've lost friends over the years, to accidents and illness, but never to suicide. The tragedy hurts the same in many ways. A young life given up. A man who never gets to father children, or grow old. My heart breaks for the fact he will miss future summer barbeques and the fact he'll never beat me in beer pong again. But those things I've been through before. A loss of life has broken my heart and made me nostalgic for days before it was possible to know how much I missed them.

But, at the root of it, this is more than that.

This feeling of utter frustration, this nagging question, wondering if we could do just a little more. Wondering if a random text, an unexpected phone call, or one more story told over drinks would've changed his fate. I can't help but be angry. There is a piece of me that is so upset with him. I want to get a chance to verbally assault him for leaving us. I want to tell him he should have called me or one of the 10 mutual friends we shared; I know our friends would drop everything to come and help, and sit, and talk. I want to get one more chance.

I know I'm supposed to end on a positive note, something about him finally finding peace, because that's really what bloggers do. But that edit may have to come in the future. Right now, as things stand, I'm just angry and so upset that friends, that I know, would do anything for any one of us weren't good enough for him to reach out to.

I will leave you with this though: text, call, facebook, or email someone tonight, someone that's had a few bad days or just that you haven't heard from. Tell them you would be there. Remind them they're not alone. If it helps you not go through what we're going through, it will be worth it.

I apologize for any grammatical errors, or essential rambling, as you can probably guess I didn't read over or edit very well.

Middle and Highschool secrets | Sunday Social

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What was your biggest middle school fashion mistake?
Do braces count? No, uhhh ok. Overalls probably

2. Who were your best friends in high school? Pics?
A brunette, A redhead, and A blonde.

3. What was a typical weekend like for you in high school?
weekend with the brunette were usually spent sneaking into rock shows, stealing cigarettes, and hanging out at the park downtown. Weekends with the redhead were spent at high-school house parties and dancing at underage clubs. Weekends with the blonde were spent at collage house parties, drinking, and at the lake.

4. Did you have any boyfriends/girlfriends? Tell us about that.
The most significant relationship I had, started just after my senior year. Wasn't much of a dater in high school, I had better things to do. 

5. Did you have any secret codes with your friends? Spill your secrets!
 One friend and I had nicknames for people on a group trip to London, so we could talk about them in front of them... however that's the only one I remember. 

6. If you could relive one day/moment/experience from middle school or high school, what would it be?
I honestly can't name one experience, that makes me want to go back. I didn't HATE my college prep days by any means, but I always knew I had better things coming my way.

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.  

Have a wonderful Sunday!