Rapier's Wit

Happy holidays! 🍷 Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅 Merry Chrstms 🍷🍷🍷 Mefry Chrimas 🍷🍷🍷 Merf chrissssssssss 🍸🍸 mmmmerrrrrrrr 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸 heh 😴

The shelves of Wal-Mart, as I entered the store, were lined with one of the most disgusting canned items known to man (besides peas -- am I right, Angie Bailey?) Yams.  Candied yams to be more precise. First, let me say I question the validity of said claims that the item sloshing around in heavy syrup is, indeed, a yam. Hey! Look at the photo. Underneath the word YAM is the truth. Yams and sweet potatoes are not one in the same.  This product is a mushy, detestable glurp in a can. It was a staple side dish at all the Thanksgivings at casa Rapier. Dump the can of candied yams into a casserole dish; cover with a pound of mini marshmallows and bake until golden brown. Yuck! I suppose it comes from the era when it was all a parent could do to get a kid to eat a vegetable so they'd slather it with cheese food or enough sugar to kill and entire nation (and it is) to make it palatable. You may as well give a kid a king size Hershey bar and call it a veggie. It wasn't until I mov...

The following is the remaining 2 minutes that wouldn't transfer in spite of how much work I put in to it... sheesh! OK, not that much work for someone who does video editing all the time. For a first timer it was tedious and frustrating. I hope you appreciate it.

Ho, ho, ho, and falalalala abound no matter where I turn.  Santa made his arrival at the mall yesterday. I thought the old, jolly fat man wasn't allowed to make an appearance prior to Black Friday.  Economic strain has overridden tradition, I guess.  Christmas parades are commencing a week early, too. Once again my holiday equilibrium is thrown off. Growing up, our household traditions were upheld by Mom. We always turned to her to keep the season merry and bright.  When she passed away after a short battle with cancer, nothing was the same. It was enough to attempt to pull ourselves together emotionally let alone try to carry on the traditions that Mom made so perfect. Those traditions couldn't be carried out if she wasn't there to execute them. As I've matured and built a household of my own, I've been incapable of duplicating the spirit that Mom embodied.  When I was married and had a newborn child, the hope of creating our own traditions filled me with s...

I realize the content of this blog, lately, is best described as textual boredom. I'd offer an apology, however, I am one of those people who can't force inspiration. And to be quite honest, I have no idea if anyone beyond a handful are continuing to read my personal blathering. When your life consists of getting up, making coffee; checking (and hoping) for emails that aren't spam ie. Urban Word of the Day, Amazon.com or forwards about it being the 52nd friendship week of the year; getting ready for work; working; coming home from work; making dinner... you get the idea. My life isn't action packed. I could piss and moan about work but that doesn't bode well when you're trying to make the workplace more harmonious. Not to mention comments would come from the wood work to chastise me for not being more grateful at this time of year. To which I would annoyingly reply, "suck it, Trebek!" Mancub is fantastic and performing phenomenally well academic...

The date is 09-09-09. September 9, 2009. What better way to honor it than with music. ..but probably more commonly known tunage:

At the risk of sounding cliche', I am proud to be an American. While I have never lived elsewhere and my travels have only taken me just outside of California and Arizona where I crossed the Mexican border to shop, I know this is the best place on Earth for me. This year has been monumental in that we've elected a black man as our president. We're facing financial crisis. Jobs are being lost at a ridiculous rate. Panic has stricken in the hearts of many. Across the globe there is unrest and war. Other governments are looking to us, the United States of America, for aid ... or firing upon us for the efforts made to give their citizens help. Sometimes we're damned if we do; damned if we don't. Times have changed mightily since the Declaration of Independence was signed by our founding fathers. OH, sure! There's still war being waged. The weapons of war have the capabilities to inflict greater damage upon the people of this delicate planet. What is a gr...

The eve of Easter was spent blathering online while imbibing in pomegranate martinis. First, martini glasses are just stupid. They look great if you're in a hotel bar or social butterflying at a party provided you aren't walking around. Martini glasses are perfect slosh makers. No thanks. I'll take mine in a beer mug. The upside is less refills. I didn't drink enough to be coerced into any lascivious activities. Yes, I know it's all very sad to those of you who have vast social lives with people of the flesh variety. Don't give me your lectures. I used to possess a healthy social life. Then, I moved back to Illinois. What people also don't understand is that I'm beyond apathetic in regards to meet and greets. I'm not getting into it now. I was home. I was drinking. 'Nuf said. I had no issues waking on Easter Sunday. Me and my heathen self didn't suffer a hangover. Sleeping in, however, was relished. I did awaken around 4 a.m. ...

These words are the first thing that hit my ears this morning was the audio with this video. I was catching up on PLURK. Within a plurk by Miss Attitude asking for inspiration was this video. Topsurf had shared the famous "I HAVE A DREAM" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963. I encourage you to take in these words as we are on the thresh hold of a new day in American history.

I have learned that fraternizing with co-workers means playing with fire. I don't know how it is in other places of employment, but in my particular setting, there is pettiness and loads of tit for tat mentality. Bonding friendships can be hazardous to one's career and peace of mind. Due to my supervisory position, I am particularly susceptible to having my words and actions contorted. I am not a manager, but associates are still considered subordinates. I have to watch my back. Admittedly, I have slipped and shared more about my personal life than I ought to. Doing so leaves me open and vulnerable. Color me human, I suppose. I haven't gone out drinking or partying with co-workers for the very reasons mentioned above. Proof of such ignorance sits in my personnel file. Dropping the f-bomb frequently when angered and sharing details of sexual liaisons while off the clock; yet with a subordinate proved to be both foolish and detrimental to my mental well-being. For that, I am...

It shouldn't surprise anyone reading this (who knows me) that I am not a hoity toity, high falutin' lady. I'm a kooky chick who prefers to put away all the pretense and let it all hang out. I keep Thelma and Louise tightly nestled, mind you. It's not that sort of hanging out I'm discussing here. If something of high grade quality is offered to me, I'll take it (if I desire the item), but otherwise, I am pretty easy to please. Yesterday was the Fourth of July. To anyone not living in the United States that's just the day situated between July 3rd and 5th. For Americans it's license to get loose, wild and free ... and potentially lose phalanges, an eye, ability to drive, etc... It seems that for every holiday in this beloved country of mine we are revelers who need to eat, drink and be merry ... and blow shit up and react with oohs and ahs. It's the American way! And I'm no different. I had to work on Independence Day which kind of chapped my hide...

I'll be working this Memorial Day holiday. It's unfortunate because I was looking forward to spending time with family members, but it's luck of the draw when working in retail. I had also requested Sunday and the following Saturday so I can attend graduations for my niece and nephew. With that, I have to put in my hours Monday through Friday this week. So, while I'm working, several of you will be dragging out your grills, putting brewskies on ice, setting up the Hillbilly Golf set and hammocks. That's all fine. It's what I would have been doing, too. Memorial Day traditionally marks the open of the summer season. It's a time for families to gather together and enjoy an additional day off from work and school. But what does this holiday represent officially? Most people know, but lose sight of its meaning while in pursuit of partying. Just in case a reminder is required, I went to the most obvious source of all to get the background of Memorial Day: The Uni...

No St. Patrick's Day would be complete without the inclusion of a snippet of bagpipes from Chicago's South side. What makes even more complete is that they are playing Amazing Grace. I work with a doctor who plays the bagpipes. It's not everyday that you meet someone who chooses to play this instrument. It's not easy. It takes a lot of practice; preferably outdoors. Bagpipes are loud. Loud really doesn't describe the sound emitted. Keep in mind they can be heard across the Highlands ... a battle cry. Last year on St. Patrick's Day, as a treat to all of us at the mall where we're employed, he played Amazing Grace . I have to tell you it was awe inspiring. The song itself always brings me to tears. Hearing it on the bagpipes evokes grander emotion. People were stopping to take video with their camera phones. He repeated the act on New Year's Day and played Auld Lang Syne. Both times it could be heard throughout the mall. With defiance (and applause), he c...

Going mental is in reference to my positive state of mind. In my head, I am galavanting about like Ed Grimley about to meet Pat Sajak, "I couldn't be more excited, I must say... it's making me mental." This year, 2008, will be a stellar, auspicious year for your's truly. Today I met two very special family members for the first time. My brother and his family have come back to our hometown for a visit. For some, that isn't something to write home about. However, we haven't seen each other since our father passed away in 1999. You could ask what in the world has prevented us from seeing each other for so long. Circumstances simply didn't allow it. I lived in Georgia, they in Arizona and our paths just never connected. For me, finances are always a hurdle to jump. We've kept in touch to some degree, but more recently we've been talking with greater depth. We were always close as youngsters, but life has a way of grabbing you by your undies and i...