Well, its another Memorial Day memory for me. Memorial Day is supposed to be a day to remember war veterans, people who serve or who have served our country, cook outs and special days with Friends. For me, Memorial Day is the saddest day for me. I usually don't go out but try and stay home. You see Memorial Day and I have a special relationship that's unique to other people. Let me explain.
When I was in high school, my parents took me to get a puppy for my birthday. It was the first time, I got to go and pick out a dog. My pets were usually strays as the neighborhood knew that if you didn't like your pet, drop it at her house and it will have a new home. So I picked out this beautiful little dachshund and named her Cassie (short for Cassiopeia). I got her in January and she was the cutest and best dog. My sophomore year in high school my dog was hit and killed by a car after having her for only a year. She died on Memorial Day. I was so sad that I didn't get another dog for about 6 months and I went to the pet store (as we had them back in my day) and picked out the cutest little terrier mix who lived to be 22 years old after being hit by a car. She got pins in her knees and a plate in pelvic bone and was fixed. I used my student loan for my Spring Semester of my freshman year of college to pay for it. I've been working at finishing my degree ever since but I digress.
I graduated high school and my friends went off to college. I stayed home and went to VCU. I had a great first year until Memorial Day. One of my friends from high school was killed along with her brother in law, niece and nephew. They had decided to go to Nailers Beach for the day. The steering mechanism broke on their van and the van drove off of the bridge and they drowned. From my understanding, the bystanders just stood there and watched. My friend's boyfriend got out of the van and he came up for air and went down into the murky water to try and save them. He got tired quickly and she and her family perished.
Memorial Day has spared me for over 20 years until this year. My family was invited to go to Virginia Beach. My children (ages 8,6,4) have not been to the beach. My oldest went when she was 2-1/2 but she doesn't really remember it. We had an awesome time and I was glad that we did something fun. We all had a blast.
We went to work on Tuesday and my husband checked out our church's website, Mount Pleasant, to see the latest happenings. He discovered that a dear man to me and our son, Mark Mingea, had suddenly died. It seems that he wasn't feeling good on Memorial Day and coughed up some blood. His wife went to get a rag and some aspirin. When she returned, he had died. She tried to revive him on the way to the hospital but he didn't revive. His death was a great loss to me. See, he was my son's first Sunday School Teacher. Our son has hydrocephalus and Mark took to him especially strong. He always referred to Casey as his boy and his little man and Casey would always smile at him and give him a big hug. No matter where we were or what was going on, Mark would always make sure that Casey knew that he was loved by him. So this was an especially hard loss for me as I love people who love my children. He is going to be missed. I still have tears when I think of what the world is going to miss but again Heaven has gained a wonderful soul.
So, as you can see, Memorial Day and me have a special relationship. Memorial Day is truly a day to memorialize those you love and remember. People say things happen in 3s and this was the third thing. Maybe Memorial Day will now be a day that I can look forward to enjoying with family and friends. I certainly hope so.
I hope you had a hot dog, hamburger filled holiday and that you remember to think of those who mean something to you and let them know why they are still here because your time could be up in a blink of an eye.
God Bless!!
Beamer 319
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I Found a Hidden Treasure - Prairie Grain Bread Co.
Last week, I started working for a temporary agency and they placed me with a bank working in the real estate closing department. I have been brown bagging it since day one and since my daughter and son had field trips, I had to relinquish my brand new lunch bag from Kroger. (Secretly YEAH!!).
I called my husband to see where I could go to eat and we decided to meet at Old Buckingham Station Shopping Center on Midlothian Turnpike. (Its a 10 minute drive there from where we both work). We decided to meet at the McDonalds (GROSS!!). Before I met him, I drove through the shopping center to see what was there. Several restaurants and then I saw it, the hidden treasure.....
The Prairie Grain Bread Company. They bake their bread on site so its fresh without preservatives. They have a wide selection of breads (9 grain, wheat, white, herb, etc.). Each day of the week, they have a "bread of the day". Thursday is banana nut bread. It was awesome. Not too much banana and it was a firm but soft bread with a pleasant taste. My husband and I ordered a turkey and cheese sandwich combo with the works. You can pick what you want and how you want it. We chose the whole sandwich (2 slices of bread). You can also choose 1/2 sandwich, 1 slice of bread divided into two. The combo included a bag of chips or soup. We chose chips. The soup was a baked chicken noodle soup. It sounded good but it was 90 degrees today so we opted for chips. You also get to choose either a bottle or fountain drink (same cost). Our bill totaled $12.16. Not a bad deal for two people having lunch.
The lady at the counter was so friendly, we felt that we were in our grandmother's kitchen as she explained the sandwiches and gave us a lot of information since we were so inquisitive. She also gave us a card. For every loaf of bread we purchase or sandwich, she will mark the card. After 12 purchases, we get either a loaf of bread or lunch for free. You can't beat that with a 10 foot stick. We wrote our names on the card and she offered to post it on their community board filled with cards. We had to promise to come back and remember where our card was.
I can't tell you enough how good the food was and we got it in less than 5 minutes. The atmosphere is great. We had a nice conversation and didn't feel the pressure of the hustle and bustle of Midlothian. The place was spotless so the 10 second rule could be expanded to 30 seconds.
If you want to check out a great place to have lunch and spend a quiet one with friends or spouses, this is the place to go. Also, my husband did buy a loaf of banana nut bread (and he usually hates it).He was going to bring it home today. HMMMMM!!! I haven't seen it. I guess it didn't make it home.
So remember to check out the hyper link to Prairie Grain and let me know if you liked it as much as we did.
Beamer 319
I called my husband to see where I could go to eat and we decided to meet at Old Buckingham Station Shopping Center on Midlothian Turnpike. (Its a 10 minute drive there from where we both work). We decided to meet at the McDonalds (GROSS!!). Before I met him, I drove through the shopping center to see what was there. Several restaurants and then I saw it, the hidden treasure.....
The Prairie Grain Bread Company. They bake their bread on site so its fresh without preservatives. They have a wide selection of breads (9 grain, wheat, white, herb, etc.). Each day of the week, they have a "bread of the day". Thursday is banana nut bread. It was awesome. Not too much banana and it was a firm but soft bread with a pleasant taste. My husband and I ordered a turkey and cheese sandwich combo with the works. You can pick what you want and how you want it. We chose the whole sandwich (2 slices of bread). You can also choose 1/2 sandwich, 1 slice of bread divided into two. The combo included a bag of chips or soup. We chose chips. The soup was a baked chicken noodle soup. It sounded good but it was 90 degrees today so we opted for chips. You also get to choose either a bottle or fountain drink (same cost). Our bill totaled $12.16. Not a bad deal for two people having lunch.
The lady at the counter was so friendly, we felt that we were in our grandmother's kitchen as she explained the sandwiches and gave us a lot of information since we were so inquisitive. She also gave us a card. For every loaf of bread we purchase or sandwich, she will mark the card. After 12 purchases, we get either a loaf of bread or lunch for free. You can't beat that with a 10 foot stick. We wrote our names on the card and she offered to post it on their community board filled with cards. We had to promise to come back and remember where our card was.
I can't tell you enough how good the food was and we got it in less than 5 minutes. The atmosphere is great. We had a nice conversation and didn't feel the pressure of the hustle and bustle of Midlothian. The place was spotless so the 10 second rule could be expanded to 30 seconds.
If you want to check out a great place to have lunch and spend a quiet one with friends or spouses, this is the place to go. Also, my husband did buy a loaf of banana nut bread (and he usually hates it).He was going to bring it home today. HMMMMM!!! I haven't seen it. I guess it didn't make it home.
So remember to check out the hyper link to Prairie Grain and let me know if you liked it as much as we did.
Beamer 319
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Position Elimated Due to a Business Decision
My husband started a blog a few weeks ago and so I decided to follow in his footsteps. The first thing he said I had to do was come up with something to say. So let me tell you why my blog is named eliminated due to a business decision. It seems my whole 22 year career has been awesome but my positions usually end with the statement, "your position has been eliminated due to a business decision."
I tell ya, I have gotten so used to hearing those words that when an employer tells it to me and then they say we are giving you a great send off package, I sit back and compare it to the other packages I have received through my career. What happened to the days of our grandparents. In their day, companies rewarded hard workers with loyalty. The worker/employer relationship depended upon loyalty and honesty. Today, it always comes down to the bottom line. Companies let go employees after 20 or more years because their salaries have gotten too high. They are eliminated due to a business decision. Then its decided a few months later, that they really needed the position and hire someone straight out of college and are paid a less amount.
In Danville, VA, there is a section of the town filled with shanti's (little 1 bedroom houses) that were owned by the manufacturing plant and their employees lived there as long as they worked as part of their compensation and when they retired, they got the house. The good ole days I say.
Today, companies look at the bottom line and decide that the company needs to go a new direction in order to keep up with the Jones'. My position gets eliminated and I have to defend why my resume looks like I leave after 2 years of employment. Its a jungle out there. I don't mean to belly ache. I am only saying that I wonder what will happen in our children's time of employment.
I think that on my next interview, I will ask, " what is the percentage that this position will be eliminated due to a business decision?". I wonder what the response will be. I definitely know that my epitaph will read, "Life eliminated due to God's decision" as he truly is the one in charge.
I consider Him to be my true employer, however, I wish that my position wouldn't be eliminated after two years.
Well, I think that's how I will end it for today. I hope you have a happy Memorial Day and that your position isn't eliminated due to a business decision.
Beamer 319
I tell ya, I have gotten so used to hearing those words that when an employer tells it to me and then they say we are giving you a great send off package, I sit back and compare it to the other packages I have received through my career. What happened to the days of our grandparents. In their day, companies rewarded hard workers with loyalty. The worker/employer relationship depended upon loyalty and honesty. Today, it always comes down to the bottom line. Companies let go employees after 20 or more years because their salaries have gotten too high. They are eliminated due to a business decision. Then its decided a few months later, that they really needed the position and hire someone straight out of college and are paid a less amount.
In Danville, VA, there is a section of the town filled with shanti's (little 1 bedroom houses) that were owned by the manufacturing plant and their employees lived there as long as they worked as part of their compensation and when they retired, they got the house. The good ole days I say.
Today, companies look at the bottom line and decide that the company needs to go a new direction in order to keep up with the Jones'. My position gets eliminated and I have to defend why my resume looks like I leave after 2 years of employment. Its a jungle out there. I don't mean to belly ache. I am only saying that I wonder what will happen in our children's time of employment.
I think that on my next interview, I will ask, " what is the percentage that this position will be eliminated due to a business decision?". I wonder what the response will be. I definitely know that my epitaph will read, "Life eliminated due to God's decision" as he truly is the one in charge.
I consider Him to be my true employer, however, I wish that my position wouldn't be eliminated after two years.
Well, I think that's how I will end it for today. I hope you have a happy Memorial Day and that your position isn't eliminated due to a business decision.
Beamer 319
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