Today my coworker and I had to go to the 10th floor of our building to get set up for the monthly board meeting that is tomorrow. We used to have an executive dining room there, but it closed a couple of weeks ago. Coworker had to get the material in the books for the board members, and I had to find some beverages to serve the board members. In order to get to the 10th floor, you have to have a security card. When we got there we thought we heard a noise, but decided that it was the elevator doors closing harder than normal. Coworker went to the board room and I went to the kitchen. While I was looking for my keys, I heard a noise at the end of the hall. I looked up and saw the door at the end of the hall close. I thought it was coworker going into the ladies room to get water for the plants. I went to the board room to check and she was still there. I told her what happened and she called security. The door that I saw close was the door to the fire stairs. There is no re-entry to the 10th floor from the stairwell. After that we worked together and never separated. Someone was up there with us when we got there. Another odd thing - when I was up there Thursday, there were several table cloths stacked on a table in the auditorium lobby. Today they were on the bar in the serving area and one of the table cloths was spread on the table. Also a chair had been moved from the auditorium to in front of the table. Needless to say, we will not be going up there alone ever again. How spooky!

Yesterday a coworker and I went to lunch with a former coworker, Scott. Scott used to work in the mailroom. He has a form of autism. Even though he is considered learning disabled, he can remember everything. He also has a photographic memory, so we always had to be careful what was on our computers when he came around. As long as Scott was doing the mail, there were very few problems with it. Even though he was intimidated by men, he would joke and cutup with our CEO. Not many people can get away with that. He was everyone's source of gossip. He got in trouble a lot for gossiping. One girl wanted people to know that she was engaged but was too shy to tell everyone, so she told Scott. In a couple of hours, the entire bank knew. Yesterday, he talked nonstop for an entire hour. He wanted to know everything that was going on, but ended up telling us what was going on. Queening got jealous because we went to lunch with Scott, so she punished us by leaving early. At 4:58, the fire alarm went off. I told myself, "Time for me to go". I'm having some trouble with the formatting of my blog. I don't consider myself computer illiterate, but I can't figure out how to separate paragraphs or make lists. It types everything in one continuous paragraph. I'd appreciate some help from my readers. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

I haven't posted about Queenie's attire lately. One reason is because she hasn't worn anything crazy in a few weeks and another reason is because I was afraid that you all would think I was a real catty person, which I hate to admit, but I am. Anyway, today I noticed that even though her outfit was ugly, it was very appropriate for the workplace. She had on a dress that had light blue and brown wonder bread polka dots on it and a light blue cardigan. At least I thought it was appropriate until she was standing in front of my desk. She had on brown tights and brown high heel strappy mules. Later in the day, I saw her with some white mesh shoes that looked sort of like Merrell's. At the end of the day she had on white socks with the white mesh shoes...and she still had on the brown tights. Speaking of outfits, a friend emailed me that when she went out at lunch she was a man on the street corner with a dark suit coat, black socks, black dress shoes and his drawers (no pants). He was carrying a sign that said "I dropped my pants for..." She didn't catch the rest of the sign. Every day is a full moon in downtown Birmingham.

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My mother informed me this weekend that my great aunt used to use Smith's Rosebud Salve on babies butts to keep away diaper rash. I think I may have to change lip balms. My Chicken Divan turned out real good. I may have to make it again in a couple of weeks. My grandmother always said that you weren't suppose to wear winter clothes or wool after Easter, but it's so cold outside that I have been wearing wool and cordoroy this week. Maybe since Easter is the earliest that it has been since 1818, the rule doesn't apply.

I hope everyone had a great Easter. I did, except it was cold. But, of course, it is always cold on Easter. We went to church and then out to lunch. Then my mother and I went home and chilled. I saw a lot of people that I have not seen for awhile. I had to go to the dentist this morning for a support filling. I didn't even have to have a shot. Wasn't I brave? I came home tonight and made Chicken Divan. I hope it turns out okay. I didn't have any bread crumbs, so I substituted Pepperidge Farm wheat crackers. I plan on eating it over rice. Yum! On the way home I stopped by Cracker Barrel and got a veggie plate and biscuits. It was really tasty. I needed the veggies. Have you ever noticed when you eat at the Cracker Barrel, they bring you a plate of hot biscuits and a bowl of frozen butter. What's with that? I watched the season premiere of Greek tonight. It was pretty good. I just love Rusty. I know he is supposed to be a dork, but he's so cute. Today at work was not as busy as it has been lately. I took advantage of it.

For all of you that are not from Alabama, here's what we Alabamians are like. I thought this was funny. If you have any questions, I'll be free to answer them.

21 Ways to determine if you are a real Alabamian1. You can properly pronounce Arab, Cahaba, Opelika , Sylacauga, Oneonta, Eufaula, and Wedowee.2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel. 4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade. 5. Stores don't have bags or shopping carts, they have sacks and buggies. 6. You've seen people wear bib overalls at funerals. 7. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.8. You measure distance in minutes. (It's about 5 minutes down the road)9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean. 10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit. 11. You know cow pies are not made of beef. 12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date. 13. You have known someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist. 14. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the same store.15. A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Ford F-350 4x4 Extended Bed Crew Cab dually is.16. You know everything goes better with Ranch Dressing, or Ketchup.17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.18. You actually get these jokes and are "fixing to send them to your friends.19. You have used your heater and air-conditioner in the same day. 20. The ladies church auxiliary is going to “throw a shower” for your new baby.21. Finally for good measure: You are 100% Alabamian if you have ever had this conversation: "You wanna coke?" "Yeah. What kind?" "Dr Pepper."

Happy Easter everyone.

Last night at WalMart, I bought some sugar-free jello pudding in the cups. They now have chocolate mint. It is so yummy. If you like chocolate mint, this pudding is for you. While in WalMart, I didn't get proposed to by some guy with a mullet and 60% of his teeth. I must have went to the wrong WalMart. Maybe next time.

I don't have much to say today. This week has been so busy at work and I don't know why. It's spring break and there are very few people at work. Usually during spring break I read all of my magazines in two days and log in too many hours on the internet. This week has been super busy. Every time I see a peak of daylight, here comes something else. I need a break. Maybe it's because of our merger. After work tonight, I went to Sephora and then to WalMart. At Sephora, I bought Philosphy's On a Clear Day, Smith's Rosebud Salve and Benefit's Bag Gal Mascara. I love the way my face feels after I wash with On a Clear Day. It feels so fresh and clean. I don't want to put anything on it. At WalMart I bought frozen veggies and sugar free fudgesicles (YUM!). When I was in line, the checker picked up my fudgesicles and said, "I ate a whole box of these the other day." The woman ahead of me and I said at the same time, "I can eat a whole box myself." I try to limit myself to one, maybe two each night.

The women's club that I belong to recently had a chili/bingo fundraiser. Hooter's donated a $25 gift card for a prize. They also gave our club a $200 gift card for us to have a small party. Tonight we went. Eight of us to Hooter's. This was the first time I've ever eaten there. I did not realize I ate so much until I looked at the pile of bones on my plate. The Hooter girl that waited on us - her hooters were not much bigger than mine. Another Hooter girl was about a size 4, but she really needed to work out. I didn't feel so bad about my body. But that's not why we were there. We were there for the food. There's a woman that's filling in on our floor for a few weeks that gets a different hairdo every time she goes to the beauty shop. I noticed today that she has the same hairstyle as in "No Country for Old Men". It was not good for Javier Bardem and it didn't work for her either. She'll probably have a new do in a couple of weeks. I bet ya'll think that I am the cattiest person alive. I'm just an extremely observant person, and for some reason I attract odd people. It is supposed to storm again tonight. I hope that the weather is not too bad.

There is this woman at work that is always dressed to the nines. Today was no exception. Today she had on a nice off white pair of pants. I hated to notice this, but underneath she had on a pair of light colored underwear with a dark band around the leg holes....and she had a wedgie. Could she not feel that? Several years ago, I coordinated getting together records for subpoenas. They moved it to another department about 3 or 4 years ago. Today, I got them back. The woman that does subpoenas is leaving Friday and there is no one to handle them until the end of June. I am not getting any retraining. I was told to do the best I could. Sometimes I feel like the catch all employee. If they can't find someone to take on a responsiblity, they just give it to Tammy. I have a hodgepodge of duties and responsibilities, none of which go with my position.

I wonder if all these folks down here who keep wishing for warm weather realize that in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, WARM WEATHER = TORNADOS!!! The weather has been awful off and on here since last night. There's more to come. I didn't go to my mother's this weekend so I don't have any liquor store stories. I called her this morning to check on the weather up there and she said that it just rained and thundered. While I was talking to her, some men came into the store that were going fishing. I said, "But there's lake wind advisories and tornado warnings out." As the old saying goes, "God takes care of old folks and fools".

Last week at this time, they were predicting snow and ice. Today it is in the 70's and they are predicting thunder storms. This has been the craziest season for weather. I will be so glad when all the people at work that are going to leave; leave, so that I can get back on my diet. All we have done this week is eat going away food. I guess no one had me tied down and was force feeding me. To make matters worse, the executive dining room sent down a huge pan of spaghetti. I ate until I couldn't eat any more. I brought home what I couldn't eat and am going to eat it for dinner. Tomorrow someone is bringing breakfast (again). I'm already 10 pounds over what I should weigh. I'm never going to lose it at this rate. I hope everyone has a good weekend. I may be back Saturday with a post about the adventures of working weekends at the liquore store. Every day is a full moon there.

I know I'm getting old. I'm sitting here wondering where the black watch plaid coat dress that Angela Lansbury is wearing on "Murder She Wrote" came from.

Today was a very busy day. We are losing one of the girls on our floor. She is going home to be a housewife. Today one of the loan officers took several of us to lunch at John's, a local restaurant that has been in business forever. I had the herb crusted chicken, sweet potatoes and fried green tomatoes. I even ate cornbread. I have never cared too much for cornbread. I know that is so un-southern for me to say, but it's the truth. I usually don't eat that much at lunch. When I got back, I could not breathe, I was so full. Tonight, it's a Lean Cuisine pizza for me. Tomorrow one of the loan officer's is bringing breakfast from Panera Bread. On Friday, another coworker and I are taking Scott, a guy that used to work in the mailroom to lunch. Scott is everybody's friend. He is 30 something years old and has some form of autism, but he has a photographic memory. He doesn't forget anything. He was the chairman of the board's pet. They had a bond unlike anyone else in the bank. Hopefully I can get back on my diet after Friday. Well, then next Sunday is Easter. Maybe after then.

I told you about our crazy weather here. It snowed during the night Friday night and on Saturday morning. Sunday and Monday were beautiful, sunny and warm. Today was warm also. One extreme to the other. Is it working on a full moon or what? Today, I called a vendor to get their street address so that I could fedex them a contract termination letter. The lady who answered the phone said that they did not have a street address only a P. O. Box. The more I pleaded the more she insisted that there was no street address. She said to fedex it to the P. O. Box and they would get it. I told her that fedex would not deliver to a P. O. Box and she kept insisting that the only address that they have is a P. O. Box. I wanted to ask her if I go to the post office and knock on the P. O. Box door, will she answer? But I didn't want to be a smartie pants.

Today I took a vacation day so that I could go to the dentist and not have to rush back to work. I go to the dentist in Huntsville. It is about 1 1/2 hours back to Birmingham. After my appointment, my mother and I went to eat breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. After breakfast, we decided to check out the new Bridge Street shopping facility. It was a nice day to walk around the center. We stopped into Swarowski, Kate Spade, Bath and Body Works and Anthropologie. We then hurried back to Scottsboro so that we could help the girl at the store clean up a mess we made over the weekend. We are getting new tile at the store and the guy is taking his sweet everloving time. He came over the weekend and tiled the hallway and restroom. Today he did the grout. He still has not reconnected the toilet. We had to go to my brother-in-law's restaurant next door. He is closed on Monday, so he gave us a key. It is so inconvenient. Tomorrow it back to the old grind at work.

I was late getting home tonight. I had to go to an officer induction banquet for a civic club that I am in. Usually we have it at a private club called The Club, but they are closed for renovations (about 50 years overdue). This year we had it at The Veranda. It was so good. I splurged and had the filet. It was so tender you could cut it with a fork. I even ate the mashed potatoes. For some reason, I don't think they are South Beach friendly. I drank water and iced tea instead of my usual red wine. Saved some calories there. I was inducted as a board of director. Last year I was treasurer. There's not that many of us, so we just rotate offices. I chose board of director since starting in October I will be the President of the National Conference of Women in Chambers of Commerce (NCWCC). It's not as big of a deal as it sounds. The president presides over a short board meeting in the spring and then over conference in the fall. The agenda is the same from year to year. Each year the president selects a charity and we sell raffle tickets to raise money. Last year we chose Fisher House, which is similar to the Ronald McDonald house except it is for families of veterans that are patients at Veteran's hospitals. We decided that Fisher House would be our charity until the war is over.

I don't know what genius at the Alabama Department of Transportation schedules to hand out traffic surveys during rush hour traffic. Last night I was late getting home because they were handing out surveys at a busy intersection. The reason I rolled down my window was because I thought it was law enforcement handing out WANTED flyers for some dangerous criminal at large. This morning I was 20 minutes late for work because they were at the next intersection handing out the surveys. I filled mine out and sent it in. It did not have a comments section where I could complain about being late for work because of them. I also registered for a drawing for a VISA gift card. I better win. They owe me. This afternoon, they were back out there. I was able to cruise on by.

CRAZY ALABAMA WEATHER

As they say in Alabama, "If you don't like the weather here, wait until tomorrow, it'll change." Yesterday it was in the 70's. We had thunderstorms and tornados last night. This morning when I went to work it was in the 60's. I didn't even need a jacket. This evening after I got home from work, I went outside to get something from my car, and it was snowing. As I said, Crazy Alabama Weather! I came home and got everything done so that I could watch where I recorded Jane Austen on PBS. It didn't come on. What a disappointment. Maybe it will be on next week. Right now I am reading Dragonwell Dead by Laura Childs. It is part of her Tea Shop Mystery series. If you haven't read them, I highly recommend them. Start with Death by Darjeeling. The main character, Theodosia, owns a tea shop in Charleston. She is always solving murders. They sort of remind me of Nancy Drew mysteries. The books are full of Charleston history, tea references and recipes. Laura Childs also writes Scrapbooking Mysteries, but I have not read any of those.

My sitemeter isn't working very well, it's not working at all. Lurkers...make yourself known. Just say HI!

There's a soda fountain in the town where my mother lives. I have been eating there since I was a kid. It has changed owners only 3 times in the past 50 years. I did not care for the last person that had it. I have not eaten there in about 3 years because of the poor customer service that I have received. The last time I was in there, I stood there for a long time and never got waited on, so I left. One of the old owners has taken it back. I went there Saturday for the first time in years. I had a pimento cheese sandwich and chips. They toast their sandwiches in an old timey sandwich machine. My sister always gets a slaw dog. Their hot dog slaw is made of chopped cabbage, ketchup and chili sauce. If you order a coke (or diet coke), they fill a glass with ice, pump a few squirts of coke syrup in it, then fill it with carbonated water and stir. During the week it is real busy. During homecoming at the local high school, it is impossible to get in the door. Don't you just love places like that. The decor and menu has not changed since I was a child. After I got off work at the store, my mother and I drove to Huntsville to do a few errands. While there I went to The Pink Pelican. It was nice to see all the new Lilly and Vineyard Vines. The store is in the process of offering Stephan Bonanno sandals. They will have their samples in about 3 weeks. I can't wait to go back and order a pair. I would order them from Vivian, but I have such a narrow foot that I'm afraid that I might get them too wide. I want to try on the samples before I order. Belk's had some Lilly and Lacoste on sale, but I didn't see anything that I couldn't live without. Sunday was a lazy day. I read and watched TV most of the day. Monday, it's supposed to be stormy all day. I hope we don't have tornados. I made some stew to eat when I get home. Yum!