This past weekend I had my 20 year class reunion. Twenty years. That's two decades, 1,040 weeks and roughly 7,304.84 days. Twenty years ago I was finally 18 and didn't have to use a fake ID to sneak into the Honky Tonk or Phase 4. Twenty years ago, I didn't wake up with sore muscles and look at my face and contemplate the plastic surgery I want to have in a few years. Twenty years ago, I got to see, on the daily basis, some of the best people I've ever met as we strolled the halls of Picayune Memorial High School.
I was pretty nervous about the reunion weekend. I had put a lot of time and effort into planning a weekend that I had hoped everyone attending would enjoy. Things are tight, financially, for just about everybody so asking people to spend money to come to New Orleans was something I was a little iffy about but once the ball was set into motion there was no turning back. I knew that this plan was not going to please everybody, that's an impossible task, but as long as those that chose to attend were pleased I felt that my job would be accomplished. What I didn't expect to encounter was how easy it would be to just slip right back into the zone with a group of people that I've known for a huge bulk of my life and I also didn't realize how much I miss those that I don't get to see and how much I value the ones that I still see all the time.
I don't know about you, but when I get around people that I've known since a very young age, I have a tendency to regress back to that age. This weekend was no different. How many 38 year old women do you know that's going to strike a Charlie's Angels pose before going on a covert mission to a bar in the middle of the night to rescue their intoxicated friend from a place now affectionately known as "Razors"? And let's not forget to put our jewelry back on before such missions are to take place. If you don't have jewels, your friend will grab some out of her purse and offer them to you while I'm on the phone begging for beer from an unknown caller who, it turns out, is one of your dearest friends. I'm sure we all have stories like this and if you don't you should have popped down to room 312 because it was the looney bin but I'd have it no other way and that was just Friday night.
Once reunion time was upon us, we paraded on down to the Bourbon Vieux and anxiously awaited the opening of the bar. I had already seen several people Friday night and during the day on Saturday but this was the "official" unveiling. You know what I'm talking about...everybody dressed up and ready to not look their age. Well, it worked. Everybody did look fantarvalous beyond words and it really was a dressed up version of high school but everyone was a little more confident. I had one friend tell me that his mom said, "You really did have a great graduating class.", and she was right. Everyone just molded together like we had never missed a beat. There was laughing, hugging, picture taking, dancing, more laughing to the point of spitting out beverages and three hours flew by like a flash. It was like we jumped in a time machine except we had good hair and didn't tight roll our jeans. And while I sat and watched as everyone laughed and carried on I realized that I was in the presence of some superbly awesome people.
I have said this many times before, "If you don't have friends like mine, you should get you some.". The same goes for my classmates from the Picayune Memorial High School Class of 1991. You are all so great and I want to thank you for coming, having a good time, being so terrific and making a weekend that could have been stress-filled one of the best I've had in years. Thanks for all the kind words before, during and after the reunion. You honestly have no idea how much your sweet comments have meant to me. This event was too much fun to only have every five to ten years and ya'll are too great to only see every five to ten years. We all made promises to get together more often and I really hope that that is the case. Until then, be safe, stay fun and God bless and thanks for not making me feel so old!!!
Much Love,
Nickie
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
I don't mean to be ugly, but...
We have lots of sayings in the South, but one of my favorites is starting a sentence with, "I don't mean to be ugly, but...", then you proceed to hurl several insults at some unsuspecting person who may or may not be in your presence. Another one of my favorites is, "Honey, don't talk about yourself, we'll do that when you're gone." I feel like a lot of that has been going on lately, especially with my current situation.
As some of you may know, my family business, of close to 18 years, is closing due to poor economic conditions due to a poorly run government. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not one to put blame on someone else for my problems. I'm one of the biggest supporters of the catch phrase "own it" which so many have a tendency not to do. But my family store closing is not why I'm writing this. I'm writing this to explain a few things to some people and hopefully by the end of this little rant, I'll still have some friends left and maybe someone will appreciate my candidness and skillfully worded piece and decide they can't live without me working for their business.
Point #1, don't ask someone if they're "really going out of business". What it shows is ignorance and a complete lack of respect for the person/family that is losing their livelihood. We have never been the type of business to have fake sales or practice ripping customers off so your allegations of this being a fake going out of business sale is asinine. I have held my rebuttal comments for weeks now when asked this question and I'm to the point where the sarcasm and razor sharp tongue that I consider my super powers are about to be unleashed. I don't deal well with stupidity and every time I'm asked the question, "Are you really going out of business?" it edges one up on the stupidity scale and eventually you're going to fall off the scale just like the mountain climber on the Price is Right game. Instead of overbidding, you're over speaking and you are going to fall off the cliff.
Point #2...As for the magical question that I get asked everyday, about 20 times a day, "What are you gonna do?". I'll answer this as best as I can shortly but here's how I feel when asked this question. Mostly, I feel that people are asking it to be nosy. It's human nature for some, especially people in Picayune/Pearl River County, to enjoy seeing someone fail or fall on hard times. What else would we gossip about other than all the cheating that goes on in this town? That's right, I said we because I'm just as guilty as everyone else. I can honestly say that I've never wished ill will on a business person, though, unless they were the type to not pay their bills and constantly cheat people out of money and yet still live way beyond their means and act holier than Thou. I don't mean to be ugly but those people I do love to see fail.
Here's the thing...every time I'm asked that question it just reminds me that I've lost everything that I was counting on to make a living for the rest of my life. Would you go up to a widow and ask her, "What are you going to do now that your husband's dead?". Let's pray to Sweet Jesus that you wouldn't although judging from some of the people I know, I can actually see them asking that very question. Here's what I can answer; (1) I'm not retiring. I'm 38 years old with a house note and bills and no husband to supplement lost income so stop asking if I'm retiring. What 38 year old who's been working in furniture retail for the last 15 years do you know that can retire? Oh, none? Shocker. (2) Yes, I did get certified to teach a few years ago but due to the fact that I never got hired on full time I never got to complete my internship at William Carey so I would have to be hired on an emergency certificate and considering there are teachers that with complete certifications out there that need jobs, who knows how that's going to work out for me. Sure, I'm just as qualified as they are but it's all about what's on paper. (3) Yes, I would be good at a public relations job. I love planning events, socializing and seeing something that I oversee succeed. Find me a company in Picayune that needs that type of position filled and I'll be more that happy to fill it. I would also love to be an actress so if anyone has any connections for that, feel free to toss my name in the hat. To answer the question, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, so as a courtesy to me, please stop asking. I will put it on Facebook, take out an ad in the paper and call in to Walton and Johnson and let the world know that I've found a calling in life. I may not seem so bitter if I felt that the question was being asked out of general concern, and by most it is, but there's that certain few that I know don't care and they're the one's I want to poke in the eyes, Three Stooges Style.
If this has in any way offended you, I'm not sorry. If it has offended you, you probably have a guilty conscience. I'm going through a very difficult time right now and I want people to know that, because I'm tired of smiling and making jokes. I wake up in a panic every morning and cry at the drop of a hat. Maybe when it's all said and done and I've found a place to move on in my life, I can go back to the jovial me that seems to be a little more popular. I don't mean to be ugly but, if I say something that seems a bit snippy, I am sorry because my emotions are all over the place; if I leave when you come around, it's not because you smell, it's because I just don't feel like talking to you right now and maybe you smell a little, ;). I sincerely do wish the best for all of you and hopefully we'll all survive one of the worst economic recessions in our nation's history. Till then, have a cocktail and try to relax, that's what I'm gonna do.
Much Love,
Nickie
As some of you may know, my family business, of close to 18 years, is closing due to poor economic conditions due to a poorly run government. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not one to put blame on someone else for my problems. I'm one of the biggest supporters of the catch phrase "own it" which so many have a tendency not to do. But my family store closing is not why I'm writing this. I'm writing this to explain a few things to some people and hopefully by the end of this little rant, I'll still have some friends left and maybe someone will appreciate my candidness and skillfully worded piece and decide they can't live without me working for their business.
Point #1, don't ask someone if they're "really going out of business". What it shows is ignorance and a complete lack of respect for the person/family that is losing their livelihood. We have never been the type of business to have fake sales or practice ripping customers off so your allegations of this being a fake going out of business sale is asinine. I have held my rebuttal comments for weeks now when asked this question and I'm to the point where the sarcasm and razor sharp tongue that I consider my super powers are about to be unleashed. I don't deal well with stupidity and every time I'm asked the question, "Are you really going out of business?" it edges one up on the stupidity scale and eventually you're going to fall off the scale just like the mountain climber on the Price is Right game. Instead of overbidding, you're over speaking and you are going to fall off the cliff.
Point #2...As for the magical question that I get asked everyday, about 20 times a day, "What are you gonna do?". I'll answer this as best as I can shortly but here's how I feel when asked this question. Mostly, I feel that people are asking it to be nosy. It's human nature for some, especially people in Picayune/Pearl River County, to enjoy seeing someone fail or fall on hard times. What else would we gossip about other than all the cheating that goes on in this town? That's right, I said we because I'm just as guilty as everyone else. I can honestly say that I've never wished ill will on a business person, though, unless they were the type to not pay their bills and constantly cheat people out of money and yet still live way beyond their means and act holier than Thou. I don't mean to be ugly but those people I do love to see fail.
Here's the thing...every time I'm asked that question it just reminds me that I've lost everything that I was counting on to make a living for the rest of my life. Would you go up to a widow and ask her, "What are you going to do now that your husband's dead?". Let's pray to Sweet Jesus that you wouldn't although judging from some of the people I know, I can actually see them asking that very question. Here's what I can answer; (1) I'm not retiring. I'm 38 years old with a house note and bills and no husband to supplement lost income so stop asking if I'm retiring. What 38 year old who's been working in furniture retail for the last 15 years do you know that can retire? Oh, none? Shocker. (2) Yes, I did get certified to teach a few years ago but due to the fact that I never got hired on full time I never got to complete my internship at William Carey so I would have to be hired on an emergency certificate and considering there are teachers that with complete certifications out there that need jobs, who knows how that's going to work out for me. Sure, I'm just as qualified as they are but it's all about what's on paper. (3) Yes, I would be good at a public relations job. I love planning events, socializing and seeing something that I oversee succeed. Find me a company in Picayune that needs that type of position filled and I'll be more that happy to fill it. I would also love to be an actress so if anyone has any connections for that, feel free to toss my name in the hat. To answer the question, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, so as a courtesy to me, please stop asking. I will put it on Facebook, take out an ad in the paper and call in to Walton and Johnson and let the world know that I've found a calling in life. I may not seem so bitter if I felt that the question was being asked out of general concern, and by most it is, but there's that certain few that I know don't care and they're the one's I want to poke in the eyes, Three Stooges Style.
If this has in any way offended you, I'm not sorry. If it has offended you, you probably have a guilty conscience. I'm going through a very difficult time right now and I want people to know that, because I'm tired of smiling and making jokes. I wake up in a panic every morning and cry at the drop of a hat. Maybe when it's all said and done and I've found a place to move on in my life, I can go back to the jovial me that seems to be a little more popular. I don't mean to be ugly but, if I say something that seems a bit snippy, I am sorry because my emotions are all over the place; if I leave when you come around, it's not because you smell, it's because I just don't feel like talking to you right now and maybe you smell a little, ;). I sincerely do wish the best for all of you and hopefully we'll all survive one of the worst economic recessions in our nation's history. Till then, have a cocktail and try to relax, that's what I'm gonna do.
Much Love,
Nickie
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Change
I've written about time, which we're all given limited quantities of while we're here but another thing that comes to mind when I think of time is change. Not the kind in our couch cushions but the kind that comes with time. Change in inevitable. Throughout our lifetime, we've all experienced some sort of change no matter how insignificant. Living in Picayune, you may think that nothing changes but it does. Remember tight rolled jeans or the mullet? It may take a while for new trends to get down here, but thank you, Sweet Baby Jesus, that fashion changes. Remember cruising the Boulevard then heading to McDonalds and whomever you wanted to find would be at either of those two places or in route in between? Remember when it didn't cost 10% of your salary to fill up your car? Man, those were good times. And for those with kids, remember when your kids were little and a hug could make it all better and you were the smartest person ever? Now nothing you say is right and you're the biggest idiot on the face of the planet even though you've gone through the tumultuous years of adolescence and lived to tell the tale. Things change. It's part of life
Some try to keep change from happening. Keeping the mullet, getting more on their kids' level to try to relate to them rather than staying in parent mode, hanging out with friends that bring them down rather than motivate and build them up just because you're comfortable with them or staying in a job that's getting you nowhere because you're too scared to make a possibly life altering decision in an economic climate that's, to say the least, one of the worst we've seen since the Great Depression. It's called being stagnant. When I think of stagnant I think of water that's hosting an entire colony of mosquitoes that's going to give me either malaria or West Nile and nothing good can come from either one of those things. Sadly, though, when I look at my life it has remained, for the last several years, quite stagnant. With my 38th birthday hovering over me this month (April 22, to be exact), I've got to decide what kind of changes I'm going to purposely make in my life.
I'm not about to cut some friends off because, quite honestly, I've got one of the best circle of friends around these parts. I have thought about taking out the loppers and cutting off some acquaintances at the root so they don't come back but that's a little heartless and being nicer is one of the changes I'd like to make in myself. That's a change that I'm sure most can agree needs to happen but chances are, I'm going to remain the sassy, outspoken, sometimes-bitchy-sarcastic-smartass that I've been since the age of two. That's right, I was sarcastic at two-years old. Where I really need to make a change is in the direction that my life has taken or rather, hasn't taken. I'm still single with no children and even though a good friend of mine tells me that others probably envy my life due to the amount of freedom I have, I'm gonna have to say that no, no they don't. I'm going to open myself to new opportunities. Whether or not that can happen from sitting on my swing thrown on my porch remains to be seen but we'll see what I can do during the day before porch time starts.
So I guess what I'm rambling about today is this...cut the mullet, unroll the bottom of your jeans and make some changes in your life. If it's living healthier, being more of a parent than a friend to your kids or something as drastic as leaving a sham of a marriage, do what you gotta do to get you where you need to be. I've always been a bit of a control freak when it comes to controlling a situation but now it's time for me to get control of my life. I hope that if you've been wanting to make a change for the better that maybe this gave you the push off the cliff into the unknown that you needed and if not, I'll try to keep you informed of what happens to the smartass, meaning me.
Much Love,
Nickie
Some try to keep change from happening. Keeping the mullet, getting more on their kids' level to try to relate to them rather than staying in parent mode, hanging out with friends that bring them down rather than motivate and build them up just because you're comfortable with them or staying in a job that's getting you nowhere because you're too scared to make a possibly life altering decision in an economic climate that's, to say the least, one of the worst we've seen since the Great Depression. It's called being stagnant. When I think of stagnant I think of water that's hosting an entire colony of mosquitoes that's going to give me either malaria or West Nile and nothing good can come from either one of those things. Sadly, though, when I look at my life it has remained, for the last several years, quite stagnant. With my 38th birthday hovering over me this month (April 22, to be exact), I've got to decide what kind of changes I'm going to purposely make in my life.
I'm not about to cut some friends off because, quite honestly, I've got one of the best circle of friends around these parts. I have thought about taking out the loppers and cutting off some acquaintances at the root so they don't come back but that's a little heartless and being nicer is one of the changes I'd like to make in myself. That's a change that I'm sure most can agree needs to happen but chances are, I'm going to remain the sassy, outspoken, sometimes-bitchy-sarcastic-smartass that I've been since the age of two. That's right, I was sarcastic at two-years old. Where I really need to make a change is in the direction that my life has taken or rather, hasn't taken. I'm still single with no children and even though a good friend of mine tells me that others probably envy my life due to the amount of freedom I have, I'm gonna have to say that no, no they don't. I'm going to open myself to new opportunities. Whether or not that can happen from sitting on my swing thrown on my porch remains to be seen but we'll see what I can do during the day before porch time starts.
So I guess what I'm rambling about today is this...cut the mullet, unroll the bottom of your jeans and make some changes in your life. If it's living healthier, being more of a parent than a friend to your kids or something as drastic as leaving a sham of a marriage, do what you gotta do to get you where you need to be. I've always been a bit of a control freak when it comes to controlling a situation but now it's time for me to get control of my life. I hope that if you've been wanting to make a change for the better that maybe this gave you the push off the cliff into the unknown that you needed and if not, I'll try to keep you informed of what happens to the smartass, meaning me.
Much Love,
Nickie
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
7 Deadly SIns...Sloth
I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and New Year's. In coming off of the holiday season I'm a little lazy which is ironic since the next deadly sin on tap is sloth. Sloth is not only an animal, it's a state of being, one of which I'm very familiar. Both the animal and the state of being are similar in the fact that sloths move extremely slow when they move at all and when we're sloth in our actions it's based on our lack of action. Since the holidays, I have been quite slothlike in my actions...lying on the couch, eating, sleeping, sitting, resting, napping, dozing, checking my eyelids for holes and so on and so forth. I haven't thoroughly cleaned my house since Christmas decoration takedown 2011, I haven't started the "get in shape" program I kept telling myself about and I certainly have given it a go of going to church like I should. Sloth is defined as spiritual or emotional apathy, neglecting what God has spoken and being physically and emotionally inactive. Sadly, I am all these things.
Last year was such a bummer that I was hoping 2011 would bring some zeal and zest back into my life. Hoping that I'd wake up with a little pep in my step ready to greet the day. Hoping I'd be looking forward to going to work and selling tons of stuff due to the influx of people getting tax refunds and buying that much need mattress they couldn't afford at any other time of the year. Hoping I'd start my "get in shape" program that never seems to quite come to fruition. Hoping I'd get back into church because it seems that things are always a little easier when I frequent that place. That's a lot of hope and change and we all know I'm not a Barrack Obama fan so I've steered clear of it so far this year and have remained sloth.
1Corinthians 3:16-17 tells us, "Do you not know that your are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy and your are that temple." I have definitely abused the temple and kept it unholy. My muffin top and premature aging from the bad things I do to my body tells me that everyday. It's hard to see how being lazy and slothlike is a positive thing. Everything about it says it's bad but I'm going to try to see the upside of being a lazy, good for nothing couch potato.
There have been many morning afters when the night before I've given into some sort of lust, made a glutton of myself with cocktails, been greedy with the last cocktail and the next day practiced the deadly sin of sloth. We've discussed all the previously mentioned sins so you should be well versed in them but sloth is the opposite, physically, of all the others because I basically lay there like a corpse doing nothing. Now you may say, "Nickie, there's no way to put a positive spin on you making two moves the day after a night of sinning." Those two moves being me moving from my bed to the couch then back to the bed. You challenged me so I'll take that challenge. Here it is...while laying there in a comatose state, I've got time to let my mind go blank or let it wander around in its dark corners, it's my choosing. If I choose to let it go blank as I sit motionless, it gives me a much needed break from the constant worrying about money, work, am I running out of eggs for children, will I ever get married? All of these things are constantly on my mind and they give me a constant headache and I never used to get headaches so this isn't working for me. If my mind wanders, as it has been known to do, I can come up with plans to help alleviate the money and work issues, tell myself that people are having children later in life and remind myself that I live in Picayune and the pickings for men are slimmer than a heroin addict. These are all things I do when I'm practicing the deadly sin of sloth on day afters. Of course, the night befores are usually brought about my trying to forget about all the things I just mentioned. It's a vicious cycle but I do what I can to keep myself sane and if meditating on my couch without moving or communicating with anyone is the remedy for insanity then I shall continue to practice my sloth ways until a solution is achieved.
So there you have it, my excuse for committing one of the deadly sins. I'm not saying it's right because we all know it's not and in a perfect world we'd all without sin but you know as well as I that when you look in the mirror, you're looking at a sinner. God knows you're a sinner so look at your sinning ways and try to love yourself the way He because when you do, you'll stop making excuses as to why you commit the deadly sins and try to find that heavenly bliss that we so crave.
Last year was such a bummer that I was hoping 2011 would bring some zeal and zest back into my life. Hoping that I'd wake up with a little pep in my step ready to greet the day. Hoping I'd be looking forward to going to work and selling tons of stuff due to the influx of people getting tax refunds and buying that much need mattress they couldn't afford at any other time of the year. Hoping I'd start my "get in shape" program that never seems to quite come to fruition. Hoping I'd get back into church because it seems that things are always a little easier when I frequent that place. That's a lot of hope and change and we all know I'm not a Barrack Obama fan so I've steered clear of it so far this year and have remained sloth.
1Corinthians 3:16-17 tells us, "Do you not know that your are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy and your are that temple." I have definitely abused the temple and kept it unholy. My muffin top and premature aging from the bad things I do to my body tells me that everyday. It's hard to see how being lazy and slothlike is a positive thing. Everything about it says it's bad but I'm going to try to see the upside of being a lazy, good for nothing couch potato.
There have been many morning afters when the night before I've given into some sort of lust, made a glutton of myself with cocktails, been greedy with the last cocktail and the next day practiced the deadly sin of sloth. We've discussed all the previously mentioned sins so you should be well versed in them but sloth is the opposite, physically, of all the others because I basically lay there like a corpse doing nothing. Now you may say, "Nickie, there's no way to put a positive spin on you making two moves the day after a night of sinning." Those two moves being me moving from my bed to the couch then back to the bed. You challenged me so I'll take that challenge. Here it is...while laying there in a comatose state, I've got time to let my mind go blank or let it wander around in its dark corners, it's my choosing. If I choose to let it go blank as I sit motionless, it gives me a much needed break from the constant worrying about money, work, am I running out of eggs for children, will I ever get married? All of these things are constantly on my mind and they give me a constant headache and I never used to get headaches so this isn't working for me. If my mind wanders, as it has been known to do, I can come up with plans to help alleviate the money and work issues, tell myself that people are having children later in life and remind myself that I live in Picayune and the pickings for men are slimmer than a heroin addict. These are all things I do when I'm practicing the deadly sin of sloth on day afters. Of course, the night befores are usually brought about my trying to forget about all the things I just mentioned. It's a vicious cycle but I do what I can to keep myself sane and if meditating on my couch without moving or communicating with anyone is the remedy for insanity then I shall continue to practice my sloth ways until a solution is achieved.
So there you have it, my excuse for committing one of the deadly sins. I'm not saying it's right because we all know it's not and in a perfect world we'd all without sin but you know as well as I that when you look in the mirror, you're looking at a sinner. God knows you're a sinner so look at your sinning ways and try to love yourself the way He because when you do, you'll stop making excuses as to why you commit the deadly sins and try to find that heavenly bliss that we so crave.
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