I cannot figure out how to post my vids here so here are the links - you really should see them. I will post some photo blogs once I get home.

Here is my you tube link, but all the vids are not uploading correctly: http://www.youtube.com/user/vagabondgirl007?feature=mhee

One and three are there, but not duex.

It is my birthday in France.

 

We made a couple of videos here but for one reason or another, xanga is not uploading them.

They are hilarious. If you are my facebook friend, please go watch them. We have done two so far. We will do at least one more before we leave. If you can tell me the secret to uploading videos here, please share!

So, today is day six of my birthday Paris tour.

Ronn and I are having a total ulitmate blast. He is a wonderful traveling companion. Thank you Ronn Benway!

It is absolute heaven to wake up to Ronn singing in the living room every morning. He brought his guitar along for crooning and what have you. Sigh. Waking up in Paris with a beautiful friend singing songs that I love.

I have taken hundreds of photos.  

There has been much city meandering, wonderful meals, pub drinking. Trying out the language as best we can. We actually ordered our breakfast in French this morning. There is a bakery down the street from our flat that we have been to three times now. They couple who run it told us they appreciated us at least trying. Murdering their beautiful language...nevertheless.

Working like heck on our s'il vous plait!

It has been mostly raining. No complaint just wish I would have packed better for this weather. The reports I viewed showed mostly sun. Only a smattering of rain. But, it is working out over all.

Being in Paris in the rain kicks Davis, California in the rain's ass.

On Tuesday we headed over the Seine into the 20th. Our destination is the Pere Lachaise cemetary. Ronn has a goal of eating a chocolate croissant at Jim Morrison's grave. 

Oh my dog, what a place. Sigh. One could spend days walking around this cemetary. Vast, peaceful, beautiful. We communed with Mr. Morrison, our lady Edith Piaf and our tragic hero Oscar Wilde. We spent two hours wandering. There was still so much to see. We hung out at cafe's after, drinking and chatting up anyone who would listen to our pardon's and merci's.

We visted Notre Dame, a gothic Cathederal built during the 1100's. And everyone has heard of the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. I have a ton of photos that I will share once I figure it out. For one reason or another, I cannot remember how to upload pictures off my mac laptop. No worries, they will follow.

So, here is a fabulous story! We visit and pay tribute to the beautiful cathederal and then get in line to access the towers. The line is so long. We were in line for just about an hour before we decided to postpone this attraction to a morning. As we wait we see a bridal party skip past. The bride in a flowing white gown, attendants playing the alto sax and carrying champagne (we saw them later, driving past the church in a red Stutz Bearcat - I got a picture that I will post)

Back to my story - we are standing in line, which is not moving much. In American, you will often see false dollars and coins on the street. I glance down and see a folded fifty euro bill laying on the sidewalk. I look around and see if anyone is looking as well. I look again and say to Ronn, is that a fifty euro bill? He picks it up and we both look around to see if anyone is the owner to this money. No one says anything. It was actully two fifty euro notes. One hundred euros on the streets of Paris. That is like $140 us dollars. I know immediately this is from Tracy. My pal that passed away in 2007. She always spoke of "pennies from heaven" when her dad passed away. And she does not know the penny equivilant to the euro amount and we are both turning fifty this year. Two fifties only made sense. Thank you Tracy.

That night we partied late into the night in the Latin Quarter (paid for by Trace . Met a man named Jacques with his companion. We communicated with their broken English and our fractured French (thanks Ronn). Shared a chocolate dessert that made me cry. Met adorable kids hanging out on the streets. Came home to find one of our entry doors broken. Had to wake up half the building trying to find someone to let us in. 

We have walked along the Seine as often as possible. It is just fifteen minutes from our flat. We start our evenings out with a cocktail on the Seine. Then we wander to dinner some where. Then complete our eve at a nearby pub with a beer and local color.

Not to mention our time together. Ronn and I have been friends for about four years. I met him when he played a house show with my daughter in Sacramento. He was heading to Europe almost directly after that. For what ever reason, we have remained in contact and have become great pals after all this time. 

I asked several girl friends to do this trip with me on the outset. Most had schedule constraints. Due to work and kids. I totally get it. Some wanted to go but did not get their passport situation together. I mean, come on, do you want to go or not?

So, one weekend day, I was kind of tipsy and focused on making this trip happen. I thought to myself...who would I have to most fun with in Paris...think think think. Girl friends can be annoying. Boyfriends can be so demanding or pouty...who would be as fun and adventurous as me? 

So, I called Ronn. We are not close friends. We are just pals. He always comes through this area when he tours. He knows he always has a place with me. I can help book a show or provide a couch for him and his musician entourage. BUT, I love this guy. I really do. If you met him, you would get this right away.

So, his initial reaction was "What?" but I pressed him a little and he got his passport that same week. He followed through but I suspect that he did not expect this trip to actually happen.

So, ok. Here we are together in France having the best time ever. Getting to know each other, lauging our asses off, really enjoying the hell out of Paris. I chose well.

Bon soir from Paris. No worries!

Rainy Paris morning.

Sitting in the bedroom listening to Ronn play guitar and sing. Rain dabbling outside my window.

My window in Paris.

Trying to sleep a little more. Not working out. Probably due to jet lag and excitement.

Ronn is eating chocolate for breakfast.

We got in yesterday around 9 am. Made some friends on the flight. I hope we do get together while we are here. They were a very cool couple (Lauren and David from Denver). Took a cab to the place we are staying. Wonderful cab drive despite the Paris taxi stories we have been told.  I am glad we did that. I did not feel up to trying to figure out a bus or train after our long flight to France.

We had a long lay over in Houston (over nine hours). Ronn and I both agree that this was the best lay over ever! Debi and Todd picked us up and took us out to a FABULOUS brunch in Houston. They drove over an hour just to pick us up at the airport. I have the finest friends in all the land.

We wen to a chi chi market/cafe in a neighborhood of Houston called the Woodlands. A to die for menu. The best bartendress EVER. We started with celebratory beverages (fresh peaches in our adult ice teas). A cheese plate appetizer. Everyones breakfast choice was better than anticipated. Again, best lay over ever. Thank you Debit and Todd. We love you.

I have been posting pictures on facebook but I will take for reals pictures as we go out and about today and forward.

The plans are pretty open. 

The apartment is really darling. Got the wee fee (that is how they say it here) figured out. The washing machine machine is still a mystery. Now the red service light is blinking with our clothes locked inside (yes, I am doing laundry my first day in Paris. Maybe this is why I had a hard time finding anyone to go with me

Here is the link to the place: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/156695. Look at every picture. Can you believe this is where we are staying for almost two weeks???

We walked around our arrondissment (13th) for some hours yesterday. Not getting lost due to Ronn's keen sense of direction (clearly not mine!). We ate nearby. Nice meal, great waitress. Drank wine to stave off dehydration.

Seem to have mastered the nearby market with out incident. A woman loved my earrings. Came back to our sweet flat. Drank more wine and went to sleep by 10pm.

I think we did beat the jet lag pretty much.

I am in Paris. 

Wow.

Ok, more latter. 

xxoo

 

(Down to the Wire)

(Borrowed from Silsby from Tripadvisor.com)

We are leaving at midnight thirty tomorrow night.

There are still several things on my to do list.

Today was a semi melt down day. I do get up and go all the time but flying to France requires a bit more organization and planning. This is the first overseas trip I have ever taken. I tried to do a bunch of things in advance (relied on good info off google!). But, I am sure I will miss something.

Just heard from a friend that Houston (she is visiting her husband there), the airport we take our international flight out of to France, is having hurricane warnings. Checking the local weather in Houston did not offer good news. Thunder and lightening storms through the weekend.

Upon checking the flight status at this early time, nothing is showing delayed. But this got me to rethinking travel insurance. I ordered some with the airline tickets and figured I better call to see if this coverage was going to be effective if we got stuck in Houston (or anywhere for that matter) for any amount of time before we could board a flight to Paris. The idea of paying for my accommodations in Paris and being stuck paying for a room somewhere is not that appealing. Or all the other stuff that goes with delays. Lost luggage, eating out and so forth.

Well, the coverage was pretty meager (FYI for anyone who books through Travelocity). And it was too late to cancel it and try to get something better (which there are several options). I spent hours on the phone today with this stuff. BUT, I did get renters insurance to cover all my expensive electronic gear (even if I am traveling). So, that is a relief. This is just one of those things I thought of and kept putting off.

That and packing. I will pack tonight. I will! I swear! I have five complete outfits figured out and probably way too many pairs of shoes figured into this equation. That will be hard for me to downsize on. No matter what I do, I will be sorry I did not pack some certain pair of shoes. But alas, leave no shoe behind cannot be my packing mantra...

And my cat, Esme...finding someone to feed and look after her. This is really stressful to me. She is so spoiled. There are several things that need to be addressed with her and I realize that no body but me gives a damn about my spoiled feline companion. So, several friends have been recruited to check in on her. Soupir de soulagement énorme (Huge sigh of relief!)!

This is so whiney, I realize that. But, again, typing out my stress really helps me work through it. I am very excited about my trip. I am also very stressed about my trip. I believe that is normal. The cost, the language, the rate exchange, getting around. It will be just fine once I get there. In the meantime, all of these last minute details (some my fault, some not) had me in a lather.

I am better now than I was about four hours ago. And, as my pal Shelly reminded me, it is not the trip, it is the journey. But the idea of my journey being waylaid in Houston for more than the nine hours already expected...well, I will get over that too, won't I?

Oui, oui, oui!!!

J'aime

 

 

For one reason or another, can not tell if it is all me or maybe no one really does cares...I have no one to talk about my Paris trip with. Only vague and very short mentions of this or that. I forced facebook to link over to the apartment I rented for my vacay ( go here: Charming Paris Flat ). 

I invited many to join me, offered to pay even. Every one was too busy or could not make their schedule work out. Now that I have booked and committed, suddenly, I am getting these pouty face friends.

What is that about?

My musician pal, RonnBenway, is going with me. He too was hesitant. I am not sure what I am learning from this experience. Perhaps I will be far wiser once I return.

Finally, plans and itinerary (but very very flexible) are being put together. I kind of think that LESS is MORE.

But I want to call and talk about every nuance of this adventure. No one is there for this trip. Pout

So, xanga crew, I inflict my Paris joy on YOU!!!!!!!!!!

My dream budget was $3,000 for air fare and accommodations. The three travel agents I spoke to came in double plus on that. I decided to try to do it myself.

I did ok on air fare. It is the height of the tourist season. Travel agents and regular air fare sites were quoting $1,500 plus for each round trip ticket. No shit. Not even non stop or first class. I managed to get both tickets for $2,400 with insurance.

I waited til that last minute on accommodations. I had a certain neighborhood in Paris (the Marais) but the time frame and budget was not working out. The place I chose is a bit distant from Paris central, but only 15 mins to walk to the Seine. The place is darling with all the basic life commodities and space. Plus a short distance to bike rentals or the metro. Coolio.

My plans include a bike tour of France, one of those fish pedicures, lots of wonderful food and wine as well as a night cruise on the Seine.

Aside from that, I hope to hit some cool Paris flea markets, more great wine and food plus just wandering the streets of PARIS! 

I am going to mail out postcards. Buy gifts for a couple of extra special friends. I hope to buy a fabulous Parisian scarf as my special souvenir.

I want to see the Eiffel tower lit up at night. My friend Ronn would like to busk in front of that Tower as well. He may book some shows, he and a pal that just played a house concert at my place, are working that out. Just fine with me.

My biggest worries are dressing well and comfortably. Not getting on Ronn's nerves. And not missing anything. Nine nights in Paris. 

This is my dream come true. I am glad that I can make this happen for me. Happy Lucky Me.

Selfish, I am sorry. Happy. I am.

xxoo

 

I meant to come over here sooner to blog but time slipped by. Now this is going to be a ridiculously huge photo blog as I have been up to my usual hijinx with lots of pictures to prove it. Since my own recollection tends to be hazy with details sketchy...more pictures the better, right?

A couple of weekends ago my friend Caryn and I spent the night in San Francisco so we could see our friends, The Sheets, play a debut and cd release show a the Rockit Room. We got a cool place to stay in the Marina district and cabbed it to the show over in the Avenues.

I think the Rockit Room use to be near the location of the Holy City Zoo, a comedy club. I remember many eves there with a comedienne bf at that time, with my friend and room mate, Cathi. Getting drunk and being included in his stand up act. We saw guys and gals that later became famous. Anyway...reminiscing...

And now, on with the show...drum roll please...

  

Amalgamation

(Pat Duffey, Robin Lovejoy, Ivo Mijak, and Billie Duffey you will see the Duffey's again)

Because we ran so late we missed the opening performer, Kenny Eng, I really enjoyed the last song he played and the stuff I found on his website. He is a talented singer solo artist with a beautiful voice that can sing any song. He covers such artists as Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson and even opera arias. Check him out.

Amalgamation definitely began the rock portion of the evening. With the Duffeys (Pat and Billie Jane) plugged in and electric, the night took a wall vibrating turn. Robin has an amazing voice. I liked their (Robin and Billie Jane) girl energy on stage. The show was rich in roots rock that displayed their original tunes stunningly. These kids are no beginners. Everyone played their heart out supporting Robin's powerful presence. Not to mention how gorgeous Robin Lovejoy is and how absolutely wonderful, she and her partner Ivo Mijac, are. It was a true pleasure meet them and hear them play live.

To make this mix even more interesting, it was great to re-visit with pals that I knew back thirty years ago who came out to show to support the band and of course, The Sheets, who we originally saw and met thirty years ago.

   

Douglas Now and Then (he was in a punk band at that time also)

  

and our friend Jimmy of the Sheets -Now and Then

(hey, do I ever change my shirt???)

This is back in the day when we listened to our music like this!

These are the same boys we use to go watch play music and then hang out with to pal around with in the City (San Francisco) during the eighties. Those were fun and crazy days. I wrote a couple of blogs about those days back in January.

What a blast from the past. Being reunited with rock and roll buddies from our CHILDHOOD is awesome to me. They all seem like solid citizens AND look great in their middle ages (sounds so prehistoric yet magical!) AND still rocking.

  

The Sheets THEN...

The Sheets NOW!

They are still pretty damn hot after thirty years!

They rocked the Rockit Room too.

    

Jimmy Perito guitar, Chris Domino vocals, Greg Batlin on drums and Pat Duffey guitar

Billie Jane is the newest addition to the band adding her amazing foxy energy on bass

They put together a set of songs from now and then. I recognized songs from thirty years ago. Which is impressive to me (I barely remember three minutes ago). They hold up and the jangly gritty guitar sound that Pat and Jimmy  dueled out on stage made us all want to dance and sing along. I was pretty busy taking pictures and drinking though.

Chris' voice is better than it has ever been. They play with the heart and soul of people who need to rock. The Sheets had a good time blending the best of new wave slam/glam with their satin Sheet trademark. Those sexy Sheets!

A fun night of raucous toons, old friends, new friends in my favorite city, so far, San Francisco.

The Sheets at rehearsal in Oakland

They have just put out a new cd, The Sheets "New and Used". I am listening to it right now. Making that night more fun as I post these pictures.

I will quote one of their songs "I'm Alright" ; Yes, you Sheets are more than alright.

The morning after Caryn and I hung out in the Marina, both of us purchasing pricey new eye wear because the kids that worked in the shop were so darling.  We had a great breakfast and enjoyed the dazzling day in SF.

Ok, I have another whole blog with my trip to the coast...again...but it would not bombard you with so much at one time.

Hi Xanga! Hi facebook. Thanks for reading my blog!

I have my ipod set to shuffle. Have you ever noticed that it decides on a theme on it's own. Right now it just played Led Zep and Black Sabbath back to back.

Believe me, my son downloaded over fifteen THOUSAND songs on that thing. The amount of metal is pretty miniscule to the rest of the mix. My pod is in a head banging mood this evening.

I have been quiet around here, and on facebook too. I am always around to comment here and there. Just keeping a low profile in my life at the moment. No particular reason.

Percolating some ideas, plans and some adventures.

Getting lots of domestic things taken care of.

I will be booking my trip to France in the next week. Fine tuning some things. Air fare is crazy high but it is my own fault for going during the height of the tourist season. But alas, that is when my birthday falls and I have it in my haid to wake up fifty in Paris. That is my plan and I am sticking to it.

Friends have given me terrific advice. A young woman who I worked with at the gallery for some time lived and studied in Paris a few years back. She had great thoughts. And several pals have been and also offer great advice. I think everything will be wonderful. The dollar is about half that of the euro, so I have to be budget minded. I can do it.

I have been listening to French cd's for months and cannot get anything to stick. Gah! What is up with that?

My band friends from the eighties, The Sheets, have their debut and cd release show this coming weekend. I will be heading for an over night trip to San Francisco with Carrie and her sons. I hope Laura makes it too. She is unconfirmed, as usual. The Punk Globe (a punk zine that has been around since I was a punk in the eighties!) has asked me to review the show and include pictures. Cool!

We will have much fun. The two supporting bands are terrific as well.

My son, Michael, - check out this video he made for his upcoming tour here

Have had more time with my son than usual lately. He is doing all kinds of recording and has a tour planned with baby daddy (Daniel of Pregnant). I love spending time with him. He is a funny young man and we seem to talk more than we have in awhile. He is meeting challenges in his life with impressive wisdom right now. I appreciate being around him to let him know that I see that.

I stole this from facebook - this is Juniper's first birthday in April (with Jocelyn)

No grandbaby time at all. I asked about going to her first birthday and was denied. I get very sad. Very sad. I even get mad but that isn't going to help so I put that aside. I have dreams about Juniper all the time. The last one I remember was wonderful. She knew exactly who I was and grabbed my hand and held it to her face. I smiled for days after that. 

I miss my daughter bunches. I miss being her mom. The grand daughter thing is her tool against me, I realize that. She is still a kid. And life is stressful with a baby. I love my daughter and look forward to seeing her and kissing her pretty head.

I am working lots. That is good. I like my work. The mortgage stuff and the cleaning stuff.

There may be an opportunity for me to move out of my place into a place with a wonderful room mate. My friend Shelly, I use to work in the same building as she did several years back, moved into a sprawling Victorian in Woodland last year. Her room mate might be moving out. She will need to be looking for someone to share expenses with if that happens. This is not confirmed but oh my dog, it would be a dream come true.

Shelly and cool dude (he had this curly fro and chops going on, he reminded me of Bernie from Room 222) at Rubicon, one of our stops in midtown

First of all, Shelly is wonderful and would be a positive person and great room mate. Her son Mason is nine or ten. I could be wrong about that. I am always wrong about stuff like that. He is a great kid and I would love to be around his energy. It would do me good. Second, it would be awesome to not have to pay for every thing. I don't know how I have done it all this time. Davis is ridiculously expensive. So, my fingers are crossed. It would be a terrific move for me.

My bad moto scooter!

I finally got my scooter! I have to learn to ride it. And I want to get leopard print painted on it. I am looking for someone who does airbrush to kitten up my Vino!

We're Friends at Headhunters

Catching music in midtown. My friends, Bogdan and Quentin, along with their amazing singer Tucker (known as We're Friends) played a wonderful show at a place in Sac called Head Hunters. It is a gay bar. Carrie, her friend Pat and I stopped by after a girl night out to the movies (Bridesmaids - funniest flippin' film ever). They put on an outstanding show. Their newest cd is my current favorite. Smooth classy vocal stylings to such standards as Fever, What Lola Wants, My Room, Gypsy Kings and originals written by Quentin. Fantastic.

This leads me to telling Shelly about the show. She laments that she needs to get out more. And she has NEVER been to a gay bar. Sistah PLEASE!

    

That's a man baby - cheap drinks that I payed for twice (as in the next morning) - Dancing Queen

So Memorial Day weekend, I take her out to Headhunters for an adult beverage. We meander around mid-town. All the little boutiques, breweries, small galleries and such. We end up at THE Gay Bar scene of Sacramento, Faces. A huge dance club with a outdoor pool. The weather is very pool accommodating. The place is hopping. The boys are wearing sarongs (and not much else) and dancing on pedestals above the dance floor. We had drink specials, pounding disco music, drag show music divas and dance lessons from the boys we kept bumping into on the dance floor (more hips ladies - hands in the aiiirrr!!!). Oh my dog! We had so much fun we had to call her boyfriend to come get us.  Shelly has now officially been to a gay club. This is the only place a middle aged straight gal can dance her ass off. Without fear of scorn or security escorting her out.

Wait, this is not my car...confusion after drag queens and swilling cheap hooch...

 I really need to get started on getting my real estate sales license. It keeps getting waylaid and that has to stop. Mom's house is not for yet sale but we do see the light at the end of THAT tunnel.

Dinner for One (this is the Bear from my title...)

An aside...I hear many people say they just can't cook for themselves. They do not see the point. I want to say that I love cooking for just me. I love cooking for many but I do not mind exerting the energy in making myself something healthy and delicious. I have been having many dinner and movie date nights with myself. But hey, don't worry, I don't even let myself get to first base.

Love you xanga crew. Thank you for reading and your comments and your support and your prayers and ideas and friendship for all these years. I love you all very much.

xxoo

 

Edited at the end:

God spoke to me last night. He told me that the whole Rapture thing was kind of joke he played on that Harold Camping guy. He could not help Himself, He said that Harold guy falls for it every time. He plays Pull MY Finger with him too. Every time, the guy pulls His finger and this has been going on for like sixty years or something like that.
Anyway, God has real plans for His true constituents this coming weekend. On Sunday at noon. It is not so much a Revelations themed moment as it is a quick thirty minute respite of prayer during the day to help you all get ready for Monday.
That is the kind of God I pray to. Compassionate.

And hey, even if you are an atheist, who doesn't need a nap?
Bring a blankie and a friend!

ps: This glorious event can take place in your room, your couch, your hammock, a park bench. Where ever the calm of a nap prevails. See you in your dreams!

I borrowed this awesome photo off of flickr - thank you sjkeathley!

It has been raining here in Davis, California (off and on). Actually, we had hail and huge rumbling thunder too.

It is a relaxing bonus to a wonderful weekend.

I just made reservations for a night in San Francisco in June with my friend Caryn and her boys. And extra room if anyone else needs to crash. At the Hotel Del Sol. Check it out, very 50's motor lodge. And very well priced.

We are going to see our friends, The Sheets, perform at a club called the Rockit Room. I took that photo and designed that flyer. I am kind of proud of that. We knew The Sheets back in the eighties when we were all angsty punks. Now we are angsty adults. Just kidding. Maybe. Mostly.

It should be a blast (ha ha ha, I made a pun, get it - the rockit room, a blast?).

My weekend was filled with music too. My friends, The Alkali Flats, had a cd release show at a club in downtown Sacramento called Old Ironsides. That was a wonderful night of old timey stand up bass slapping, snare drum sizzling, electric gee-tar twanging good times tunage. I did not get home til after midnight! My friend Bogden and I had sushi before the show at Mikuni's and my friend Stacy met us at Old I. 

Yesterday, Saturday, I went back to Sacramento, after a productive day at home, to check out Second Saturday (the art walk) and an event called In The Flow.

It is a four or five day event that includes local Jazz music at different venues all over the Sacramento Mid Town grid.

Caryn and her boys were there. We watched some free form Jazz, chatted up several of her artist and musician friends and went to a couple of galleries close by. Her husband, Tommy, helped start this event four years ago. Tommy passed away just about a year ago. It has been a tough year for Caryn and her boys, I tell you.

I am blessed to have them in my life.

So today has been all about LAZY! Reading the paper, talking to pals, mixing it up on facebook! I have not REALLY gotten out of bed for reals, even. I do not see the rest of the day getting much busier. Although I do have a good dinner planned for this evening when the girls get home.

I am making carne asada and artichokes. And probably margaritas if I can get Celeste to go buy us the fixings. I am too lazy to drive to the store!

I finally have my laptop fixed, you may be see more of me blogging around here.

Happy Sunday xanglians!

 

Unless, that is, I am sitting in my therapists office paying her to listen to me.

You catch my drift.

I am in the interesting position of doing many different jobs right now. Somewhat due to "the economy" and mostly because I like not having a real "day job" any more.

This preference requires me to actually work harder than a regular day job requires of me. It also gives me the freedom to love what I am doing, to some extent, and love the people I am doing it for to a greater extent.

I am doing mortgage stuff with a boss that I really enjoy working for, I also have helped out at an art gallery where I am fortunate enough to know some of the most inspiring, talented and kindest young people on the planet. Recently some friends from a band asked that I help manage them. Very cool!

I also do labor. I clean homes. I help people move. I will paint and do organizing. I have these skills, so I offer them out for a very fair price and to people who want/need my help.

As it goes, and has gone, the people I work for, in the labor area, I adore and love. I care about their homes and their fams. I want to make them feel supported and taken care of when they get home from their work a day world.

For the most part, these wonderful people treat me awesome. Very awesome. When they do not, I no longer choose to help them out. It isn't worth the money.

Seriously. I would rather hold up a card board sign at the freeway then clean your toilet and have you treat me with disrespect for what little money I am paid.

Ok...on to the rant...

Communication with the person that cleans your toilets.

I have a history with the people I have been cleaning for. I have been helping out their households for almost five years. They have kept me around for some reason or another. I feel I am trust worthy and flexible and fair.

I am sure I have had less than sparkling days and everyone brings me up to speed on what they need or things they feel I have overlooked.

Recently, a couple of clients have been...how do I say this, they are nice people, they have not been communicating with me in a way that feels supportive to my helping them.

Does that make sense? When I have had to call them with a problem they immediately assume that I am wrong in my view of the situation, explain that they are right and do not offer a plan B. They re-explain to me what is not wrong with the situation in their eyes four or five times. I slow down and try to clarify what is wrong and what I cannot figure out...til I am blue in the face...

I prefer to figure things out on my own but I will not leave a surprise for you when you get home. If something important is standing in the way of me taking care of my work for you, I am going to call you. This is your home, after all. It isn't like I am vacuuming your office. I am cleaning your bathroom. I am in your bedroom and your kid's room. I am petting your dogs and cats.

I do not takr anything like that for granted.

I know, I sound like I am this amazing fabulous person...I am not. But, I am sincere in doing a great job or at least caring about what you want when I clean your home.

So, back to me having my hand in your toilet...

Don't you think that someone who does this for a living deserves a modicum of respect? If I am willing to contact you with a problem, wouldn't listening and suggesting a plan B be the correct direction to take? Maybe I did overlook the obvious, maybe I did just clean two other houses and am tired and a little direction would be in order. Maybe you were not clear about an expectation or the situation.

I am not a stupid person, but surely any of the above could and has occurred. None of those issues are a reason for myself or you, whose toilet I have my hand in on a regular basis, to speak in a disrespectful tone. This is not a situation that deems debate.

That YOU message thing. Did YOU do this? Did YOU see that? Just an offer of plan B, apologize for the inconvenience (I WILL APOLOGIZE PROFUSELY FOR BOTHERING YOU WHETHER I WAS WRONG OR NOT) and let me get back to the job at hand, seems to me, to be the right route to take.

Jeeze. You may get paid a thousand times more than I do but you have trusted me in your home around your pets and fam, I personally do not think you would let an idiot do that. Don't talk to me like a five year old.

I know this all sounds a little over the top defensive. I agree. But, that is why I prefaced this with I do not usually blog rants.

I do this because I enjoy the freedom and being appreciated. Simple. I do not even charge the going rate of housekeepers in the area because, usually, the people I help tip me generously.

Ok...I in fact, have cooler things than this going on BUT, I feel better for getting that off my chest.

In summary, please treat your support peeps with respect. Do you want to be right or do you want a clean house?

Nice to see you, xanga-peeps!

ps: I also employ people to clean for me. Many times over the years and still now when I am overwhelmed and cannot tend to the usual chores. I treat them exactly as I expect to be treated and I tip very well. Just sayin'