Brie aka Barbara K's Open Salon Blog

My Fledgling

Sat, 5 May 2012 00:05:04 -0400

He left 12 weeks ago.

My first fledgling.

He tested his wings in the Big Easy.

What a place to learn to fly.

The town was kind to him.

For that, I am grateful.

He fluttered, he fed and he grew.

He found his way home.

For a short while, I think.

My nest is full again.

His wings are stronger now.

He is ready to spread them again soon.

My heart will ache when he leaves.

My heart will swell as I see him fly away.

My Alex.

My first born.

Out of the Burbs, Back in the City, cashin in my Mom Cred.

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:03:42 -0400

I’ve stayed home for 23 years having fun playing house.   I was extremely fortunate to be able to do this. My husband and I shared the same philosophy. Mom would stay home during our childbearing years, and dad would work his fingers to the bone to accommodate this.

Sounds like a plan. A little radical those days, but still a plan.

For 23 years, in spite of all obstacles, we soldiered on and I was able to stay home.

We raised three magnificent children.

Fast forward to February 2011.   Our youngest of three is a senior in high school.

With the current economy, its time for me to venture out into the world and help pay for three magnificent children’s college and healthcare.

I enthusiastically spread my wings and venture back into the world of full time employment and I apply for my first job.

Not so fast.

Although, I suspected that this process would not be an easy one, I wasn’t quite prepared for the absolute rejection that I experienced at the beginning of this journey.   It seems that my resume, which was quite impressive 23 years ago, isn’t quite as impressive to the hiring peeps today.

Undaunted and with a tenacious spirit, I eventually secure full time employment, with benefits.

Groovy! Instead of playing house, I am now playing hotel.

I start the new job.

Unlike, my throbbing feet, I find myself both grateful and delighted to be back into the working world. I’m out of the burbs and back in the city baby!
For the first few weeks, in my entry-level position, things are going swimmingly.

I’m using the skills that I've finessed as a stay at home mom to facilitate my new career. (multi tasking, managing chaos, schmoozing those who need to be schmoozed, dealing with difficult and complex people ie, spouse, teenagers, childrens educators, doctors, neighbors, etc, etc, etc.)

With these skills at hand, I was well suited and was thoroughly enjoying my new place in the world.

Or so I thought.

As it turns out, my lovely and also skilled coworkers, who happen to be close in age to my magnificent children, don’t quite get or appreciate the talents that I have accumulated over the years.

It seems, that if you do not share their computer abilities, they look at you as kind of…(for lack of a better word) stupid. Really?

Not that they come right out and say this, however, another skill that I possess and finessed over the years, is a great sense of perception. Although this is a palatable and expected label to hear from your “know it all, computer savvy offspring, it's another thing to hear it from your computer savvy coworkers.

Being blessed with a tenacious spirit, I will soldier on. My computers skills are getting better everyday and I will continue to do what I have been doing for the past 23 years.

Teaching the children well.

Really.

Me Vs The Magnified Mirror

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:01:48 -0500

So.... I'm shopping after a full day of working the front desk at a lovely hotel. I'm feeling pretty good about myself, makeup and hair working today.

I stroll into the local Brookstone Store at the mall and am enjoying browsing through all of the latest offerings. My feet are a tad tired from working all day, so I take the time and sample the magnificent foot massage device.

Adequately refreshed, I confidently sashayed over to the personal hygiene section and coyly peeked at myself in the $150.00 chrome magnified mirror.

Yikes!

Who new?

I am a Bearded Lady.

I've stood at the front desk, greeting hundreds of people from all over the world today, and I did this while donning a beard and mustache.

Life's a bitch.

He Showed Up Wearing a Tie...

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 02:03:42 -0500

“Let’s go out to dinner Wednesday”.

“Sounds good”, he replied.

He showed up wearing a tie.

My little boy.

We ate in a restaurant that was a favorite of mine when I was young.

We talked.

We drank fine wine.

He’s young, complicated and superb.

My baby.

My first born.

I think he’s on a good path.

My baby.

My first born.

My Alex.

What does your pets name reveal about you?

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 19:07:02 -0400

The other night I was relaxing on the porch watching my current charge of pets enjoying the yard. In deep contemplation, I decided to count all of the pets that I’ve ever had.

After mentally making the list , I came to the conclusion that my choices of pet names could be quite revealing.

Although, I’ve never taken a single psychology course, I’m suspecting that this list provides insight into my persona.

Often being described as a wee bit eccentric, I found that my name choices indicated quite the contrary..

Does it say that I lack creative flair? Does it say that I’m a straight shooter? Or, does it say nothing at all?

What do you think?

Anyway, It was a fun exercise. Make your own list, and tell us what your pets names reveal about you.

Lucky………….dog

Tuffy…………..dog

Happy…………dog

Kelly…………..canary

Teddy 1………..dog

Teddy 2………..dog

Bo……………...dog

Fred……………cat

Joe……………..dog

Maggie…………dog

Baby……………parakeet

Snowflake……...parakeet

Tia 1……………lovebird

Tia 2……………lovebird

Hershey………...cat

Dover……...…...cat

Jasper…………..dog

Taylor…………..dog

Toby …………...dog

Tessa…………...dog

Tequila…………dog

ps. I forgot the goldfish named, Girlfriend…I won her at a carnival and she lived for 9 years.