…Hello 2011
Posted by Michelle Moquin on January 1st, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I just love the above font. It expresses “whimsy” and “happiness”, exactly how I am feeling this morning. I HOPE everyone is feeling some of this too, or at least HOPEful.
A new year has a tendency to do that…instill a sense of HOPE that the new year brings a new beginning. Hence we can let go of the old, forgive, forget, move on, start with a clean plate, make room for the shiny bright and new, change habits, create fresh ideas, do things differently, view from a different perspective…etc., etc.
I really wasn’t planning to write about any particular topic this morning. I thought I would just leave it up to fate and see what my finger tapping would spontaneously produce. And currently I am at a standstill. :) I read a few pages of A New Earth this morning, and in my state of happiness, I am also feeling quite introspective…and quite private.
Not a good thing when I am trying to write my blog and give my readers something inspiring to chew on. Nope, not today. :) So…it looks like the chewing and the inspiration and is going to have to come from you, if at all. I’m taking a back seat and leaving the forum wide open.
However, before I slip out…I will comment, as I am in the mood for that.
Lan: I think gratitude towards Suzanne is in order. She certainly inspired the interest. And I learned something new too. So thanks Suzanne.
Evelyn & Harris: Wow. Another big congrats is due! Twins?! How delightful. I am so happy for the both of you! Evelyn, reading your commentary made me smile and laugh. Yes Harris, girls certainly need breathing room. Doug can attest for that. But hey, doting on the woman he loves, carrying the babies that you two created together is so endearing and sweet. Eat it all up, and be grateful that he loves and cares deeply for you.
On another note, so sorry you had to quit your job – but somehow I think you’re pleased. (?) At least now you can just relax and enjoy your pregnancy (?) Coming from a girl who has never had children, let along, enjoyed a pregnancy, I really don’t know what they hell I’m saying. :) All I can say, is that I am super excited to be over there, and meet all of you, whenever your plans allow. And now I will have the added excitement of meeting your newborns, or perhaps even seeing you with the precious plump belly!
And Harris, why is it that even though I have not met your lovely Evelyn, I have no problem visualizing her saying those words to you?! You have a fireball on your hands and I expect if you produce one of each, as Evelyn would so love, the little girl will be just like her momma. You will certainly have your hands full then if you don’t already. And don’t you love women and their every changing minds and moods? One minute she feels this way, and the next, completely the opposite. We like to keep our men on their toes. But I can see you are able and willing. :) You two are so cute together.
But like I said, I don’t have children, so I am going to stay out of it when it comes to the “proper precautions”. All I will say, is that many women have handled the challenges of pregnancy without the help of “help”. I’m sure Evelyn will be just fine listening to her gut, and perhaps Ruth too. And as far as your marriage…I think you two are handling it just fine without my added two. :) Love to you both.
Speaking of…
Hi Ruth: Nice to hear from you, and no worries. I can imagine that your hands are always full. Again, sorry for the inconvenience of the blog fame. It seems my blog’s popularity is subdued here but evidently not in your area.
Happy to hear though that you are having a wonderful cruise in the Greek Isles. One of my favorite things to do is go island hopping. Although I can’t say that I have done it in the fashion that you are now currently enjoying. I HOPE all of you are having a wonderful time!
Oh, and I must not forget to congratulate you too! – After all, with the help of two lovebirds, you will now have 15, as Evelyn has pointed out. No surprise that Evelyn will be an excellent mother. How could she not be when she has such a great mother model to follow.
Ruth, I have said it before, and I will say it again. I am really looking forward to meeting you too. And ditto on the variety of subjects that we will surely discuss into the early morning. I so look forward to our girl time, and learning what you have discovered. Kinky sex and intrigue in hidden files…Ooh, too much fun!
I have to say that 18 months felt like such a long time away, but now…well I just get more excited thinking about how soon it will truly be when all of us will meet even sooner than I expected. And now your comment that we, you and I, look similar? Not fair; you can see me but I can’t see you…yet. :) Oh my curiosity is growing!
So…onto logistics. As far as the details of me getting there, like I said, France and England are quite different than what I experience here, so I will defer to you and Anonz in that area. With respect to Anonz, I’m looking forward to meeting the big lug. Love to you, and the girls. Enjoy your excursion!
I see more comments have some in but….
…I can hear my Readers now, “It’s after 11:30 am – where is today’s post?! What’s going on Michelle?” Sorry peeps…I’m posting late. I’ll be back on track tomorrow with “articles and keen insights” (Thanks Peter) …I HOPE.
Its been a pleasure and I look forward to another year with all of you!
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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January 1st, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Looking for Some Extra Income?
Bob Cartwright
Intelligent Compensation, LLC
A low-wage, part-time retail position isn’t most people’s idea of a dream job, but the weak economy is forcing some to consider this option if it should become available.
It can bridge the gap until jobs in one’s own field open up again… as a second job to balance a stretched family budget… or as a retirement job to rebuild lost savings.
Part-time retail jobs typically offer low pay and limited benefits, but some do provide an attractive perk — an employee discount.
Unlike most benefits, employee discounts may be available to part-time and seasonal help.
Employee discounts tend to be treated as an afterthought by job seekers, but these discounts can significantly increase the total compensation.
Example: A 20-hour-a-week holiday retail position paying $8 an hour provides less than $700 in total wages for four weeks of employment — and significantly less once income taxes are deducted and Social Security contributions are withheld.
If a job seeker selects an employer that offers a 30% employee discount, however, and then does $1,000 worth of holiday shopping at the employer’s store, that is $300 added to his/her bottom line.
As a rule of thumb, the larger a company’s profit margins, the larger its employee discount is likely to be.
Niche stores and boutiques often offer discounts of 30% or more… department store discounts tend to be around 20%… discount stores’ employee discounts rarely exceed 10%.
However, discounters generally charge low retail prices, so a 10% employee discount at a discount store could result in lower prices than a 30% discount at a niche retailer.
Warning: The IRS might consider money saved through an employee discount program to be taxable compensation. Rules are complex, so check with your employer or tax adviser.
MAJOR RETAILER EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS
The discount policies of some large retailers (plus Web sites to go to for more information)…
Barnes & Noble. Employees receive a 30% discount on books. Discounts vary on other merchandise. http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com (click on “Jobs”)
The Container Store. Employees receive a 40% discount on most merchandise and a 50% discount on the store’s best-selling elfa modular shelving and drawer systems. http://www.containerstore.com/careers
JCPenney. Employees receive 20% off most merchandise and 15% off furniture and services, including salon and optical services.
Bonus: On special JCPenney “Associate Days,” employees receive 35% off most merchandise and 20% off furniture and services. The company typically schedules three Associate Days per year. http://www.jcpenney.net/careers
Lowe’s. Employees receive a 10% discount. http://careers.lowes.com
Macy’s. Employees, spouses and eligible dependents receive a 20% discount on most merchandise.
Bonus: Employees receive an additional 10% off on approximately 30 “employee-recognition” days each year. http://www.macysjobs.com/macys
Target. Employees receive 10% off. This includes prescriptions filled at Target pharmacies, grocery purchases at SuperTarget stores and online purchases at http://www.target.com (click “Careers” under “Company Information” at the bottom of the page).
Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s is one of the few supermarket chains to offer an employee discount. Employees receive a 10% discount. http://www.traderjoes.jobs
Walgreens. Store employees receive 15% discounts on most merchandise and 20% on store-brand merchandise.
Bonus: Employees also qualify for 10% discounts on generic prescription drugs and 5% discounts on name-brand prescription drugs.
These prescription discounts do not apply to insurance co-pays, however, and thus are of use mainly to employees who have limited or no prescription drug coverage. http://www.walgreens.com (click on “Careers”)
Wal-Mart. Associates receive 10% off most regularly priced general merchandise, fresh fruits and vegetables, and Wal-Mart Vision Center eyewear.
Wal-Mart employee discounts usually do not extend to sale items or to most grocery items. http://walmartstores.com/careers
NONRETAILERS’ EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS
Retailers are not the only employers to offer employee discounts…
Restaurants often provide meals for their employees before or after their shifts for free or at very low prices.
Airlines often allow employees to travel for free on standby and their family members to travel for a nominal fee.
Cable and Internet companies typically provide employees with free or discounted cable and Internet services.
Telecom and cellular service providers usually offer their employees sharply discounted calling plans.
Movie theater employees generally can watch movies for free.
Health clubs may offer free memberships to employees.
Examples of nonretail employee-discount packages…
Comcast. Employees receive cable packages for free, as well as free high-speed Internet service, including installation and a cable modem.
Employees must live in a Comcast-serviceable area to receive these perks. http://www.comcast.com (click on “About,” then “Careers”)
Delta Air Lines. Employees can travel for free or at greatly reduced rates on Delta flights once they have worked for the company for 30 days.
Free employee travel is “on standby,” so employees can be bumped from their flights in favor of paying customers.
Taxes and airport fees might apply when flying to foreign destinations. Delta extends its free-travel perk to employees’ spouses, minor children, parents and same-sex partners.
Employees must pay an annual non- refundable $50 activation fee before they can use their travel discounts. http://www.deltajobs.net/career_destinations.htm
Southwest Airlines. Southwest employees can travel for free and without limits from their first day of employment whenever there is an open seat on a flight.
Spouses, dependents and parents of employees are eligible for free travel as well.
Employees can earn free tickets for friends and other family members through the Buddy Pass Program, which parcels out ticket vouchers based on hours worked. http://www.southwest.com/careers
Starwood Hotels & Resorts. When rooms are available, employees and immediate family members can stay in Starwood hotels for as little as $29 per night through the company’s StarHOT program.
Employees also qualify for half-price meals in many Starwood restaurants and free or heavily discounted meals during shifts.
Starwood properties include Sheraton, Westin and St. Regis hotels. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/careers
Personal interviewed Bob Cartwright, a certified senior professional in human resources (SPHR) and CEO of Intelligent Compensation, LLC, a compensation and human resource management consulting company based in Austin, Texas.
He serves on the Society for Human Resource Management National Total Rewards, Compensation, and Benefits Expertise Panel. http://www.intelligentcomp.net
January 1st, 2011 at 1:06 pm
I am relieved that you are agreeable with Anonz’s plans. He said that maybe a short first visit might be the best thing. He can arrange for you to leave America for a few days. You could leave on a Friday spend Saturday and Sunday on an island with us and be back in Oakland by Tuesday.
This is just an example, we will work things out in private of course. I am rambling because I am so excited I can’t wait for all that security the boys(Harris and Anonz) are arranging.
Ruth
January 1st, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Michelle:
I am writing to tell you and America that we in China are celebrating our 100 year as a republic.
Please wish us well
Ai-shi
January 1st, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Hi Mischa, I love that font also, very festive : )
Burt, what exactly does a little more Zen Lill mean? I aim to please so, what is it you want you want more of? Burt, you know who to cast as me right, the big bank woman ; ) and please cast an elegant male like – hmm – maybe Colin Firth for Anonz and I’d like a front row seat at premier time and hmmm, you can toss in a good word to your contact bc if you think I’m something here, you’ve got no idea what kind of story I am ; )
Evelyn and Harris, wow, congratulations, you two do not waste time and good on you bc I love babies, I JUST called a local hospital that has a baby holding program (babes with complications that stay longer than mommy and need some afternoon or nighttime snuggin’ when the nurses are busy), so I’m definitely down with some snug time with your two, just say the word and I’m there!
Harris, seriously…women need their space, it’s cute and endearing to have a loving man catering to your bun in the oven needs but it can work over the female independent factor which is already overrun by hormones temporarily : ) I would suggest standing down when asked : ) and I mean that in the nicest way.
Ruth, Mischa gets to meet the ‘big lug’ but I don’t…?? hmm…doesn’t sound fair to ZL but I’ve learned life is not always fair. I’m glad he’s able to be around so much as to be called a big lug bc that’s funny.
All the screenplay talk is fun, let’s see who gets the aliens scene out there first : ) Mischa and Doug, I’m sure you’ve protected yourselves but ideas are just ideas, how does one protect that if they change the details enough??
Luv, Zen Lill
January 1st, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Zen Lill:
Anonz isn’t coming until the wedding(I think) he is just making the arrangements. It is so hectic because we expect the groupies to be extra excited if they suspect Michelle will be here.
A trial run may be needed just to see what to expect. There are no hard and fast plans made. Evelyn is going to wait until she knows what she is going to have. We want a picture on the sonic grams.
It is crazy here right now. We have 24 hour cars around the estate. Somehow they followed Evelyn here. We are in the process of moving. The girls love it. They are talking about getting their own live tV show.
They walk around giggling all the time and mimicking being on camera. Telling everyone their big sisters is famous. Oh, to be around here is maddening.
As for Anonz being around he used to come around when they were smaller, and of course I new him before the girls came. I did work for one of his companies.
He was a commanding figure to all the girls. My husband was one of his chief lieutenants. But now I see him with the girls. He trips over their toys and sits with them like he never did in my presence before.
He sees the girls in private. I return when he has left and usually spend the rest of the week quieting them down.
Ruth
January 2nd, 2011 at 7:33 am
Mischa, you’re famous GF! And no ine deserves the notoriety more – I love it and I love the UK and Paris and add in Italy : ) the way things have been going around here lately I could be talked into moving to any of those destinations in less than a NY heartbeat.
Ruth, thanks for responding so quickly. Ah I think just the way I’ve been out if sorts lately I was feeling left out, childish I know. Thanks for the report – and it’s nice to know that he is successful in winning the hearts and affection of children (albeit female Tweenies!) bc no amount of outward sucrsss is worth much without human closeness/connection of some kind. I’m trying to imagine having 13 versions of my daughter around me constantly – wow – bless you woman : )
Tell anonz I’m glad he’s feeling better.
Its cold in LA but incredibly clear due to the rains, great days for cliff walking…!
Misch, want to chat offline later this week? Need to get my kiddie back in school and catch up with my own life for a mo’ though : ) Th/ Fri?
Luv, Zen Lill
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:40 am
Hafa adai Guam:
I am heading there for a possible business opportunity. I usually try to understand the politics of the region I’m about to participate in economically. So I started at the top in Guam.
I discovered that in it’s recent election that less than 40,000 voters participated in the election of their governor. The 2010 election returns show that Republican gubernatorial nominee Edward Calvo received 19,875 votes, whereas Democratic nominee Carl T. C. Gutierrez received 19,292.
The interesting thing about those figures for me is my knowledge that the white boy is looking at those figures and knows that with his influx of 5,000 voting age marines and another 15,000 relatives of voting age accompanying them, they will be able to re construct the political map of Guam.
Knowing what the white boy has done to continental America with his racism, bigotry and worship of money, I wager five years after they have taken hold of Guam Chamorros will have no say so on what happens on their island.
The white boy will be preaching “the one man one vote” propaganda they spiel when they have the voting majority.
Bear in mind whenever they were in danger of losing that edge they imported more whites to the area or changed the rules of who could vote, or forced the OTWs from the polls or just stole the count.
The white boy NEVER plays fair. That’s why he always wins. He has no conscious and no human soul. He is but a creature that walks among humans mimicking the traits of humanity.
Have you noticed that often when gay men impersonate women they can be discovered because the image of the woman they portray is a bit too much. That is what we humans get when the white boy puts on his human act.
Think about it and you will discover that when he puts on his religious hat: Like the gay man’s impersonation, his is a bit over the top. He is not human so believing in a holy being naturally is a trait he has difficulty with.
So his religion is more about telling the worshipers how to worship than it is about mimicking the good behavior of the God and being good to your fellow human.
His extreme departure from the norm can be ludicrous if not for the force of their insistence that others accept their ridiculous proclamations.
I.e. the Mormon religion. Anyone reading the mormon “bible” and coming away saying that that bullshit is not the silliest thing they have ever read would have to be brain dead or white.
Jesus, a jew took a boat to Utah and made a bunch of sexual deviates kill and murder their way towards forming a religion in their new promise land.
The only thing promising about Utah is the next underage girl some old man will “wed” or deflower under the guise of that bullshit religion in that state run by mormons.
Excuse me, I digress.
Back to Guam. Once the white boy has a firm hold on the political position greed will take over full swing. Most of the Chamorro women will be turned into prostitutes as they did to the women of the Philippines,
If the economics are there, as they were in the Hawaii islands, they will grant it statehood. Then all hope of ever having a culture to pass on to their children will be lost to the Chamorro.
Guamanians remember this proclamation made on January 2, 2011. What will Guam look like in by 2021?
Robert
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:03 am
[...] Ai-Shi: Of course. I only wish you the best. Congratulations! [...]