What kind of tipper are you?

My obsession with tipping began at a very early age... about 8 years old. We were leaving a restaurant when I noticed that my dad did not leave our waitress a tip. Perplexed and thinking that she had done a great job, I started asking my dad (in front of the whole place) "Dad, dad! You forgot her tip! Dad, are you going to leave her a tip?" He was so embarrassed that he exclaimed that he had to get some change and was going to take it back to the table. When we got outside my mom died laughing and told him that he wouldn't be able to be a cheap skate any longer if I was around.

Not that I have ever busted my butt as a waitress- I spent a month doing it and decided it was too hard for me! I couldn't stand the way people treat you like you are less than they are. Not to mention, that before tips waitresses make less than $3 an hour. Now, I am not saying that if you get bad service you should feel obligated to tip your server. But if you have had good service and didn't want for anything, it is customary (and DECENT) to leave a 15- 20% tip.

Tipping has become such a source of contention with me that I have actually quit dating someone because he was a shitty tipper or rude to our servers. I know which of my friends that I do NOT want to go to lunch or dinner with because of the way they tip (or don't tip)! It is always these people that special order everything, work the waitress to death, and then fail to leave a tip (every time). Ummm...HELLO! Just because you don't leave a tip, you leave your other friends with the burden of discretely throwing down money because your cheap ass didn't!!!! If you can't afford to eat AND tip, you should stay home or order tea! Honestly, it is a buck or two if you had an $8 entree. Really, you can't afford a dollar? If you are uncomfortable with this topic, perhaps you should rethink the way you tip or treat your servers. Or God forbid, maybe one day you'll be in the position of being a waitress. Now that would be karma at work;-)

SPRINT!

Sprint!


It is a glorious morning, sunny, about eighty degrees with a soft breeze. I stop at the park to do my somewhat daily walk when I am on my second lap. I have passed all of the old farts (yes, even with my baby stroller in tow) and the lady with her hands in the air, listening to her "Praise Jesus" music. I round the corner and notice that six more people have entered the trail. I think to myself "damn, six more people to pass", when it hits me. When did this become a competition? Why do I feel the need to pass these people out for a morning stroll? I realize that my life has become this sprint to get to the end. I am in a hurry to do everything these days. I remember a time when I used to go for a run and listen to Fruit Cakes by Jimmy Buffett. I would skip and "bee bop" down the road not caring that I looked like a complete moron. And… it was FUN! I haven't actually heard a song on my Ipod and I decide that I am going to do my last lap slow and "bee bop" my way around the pond. I see a person in front of me and my pace picks up a bit. Then a little dragon fly flies by and I notice the seventh graders over at the school football field out for their morning practice. They are doing lunges back and forth on the twenty yard line and I think "man, it sucks to be them"! I slow down and actually hear Nick Lachey singing and my thoughts drift to sucking his luscious bottom lip (oops, rambling a little bit, sorry). I realize that when I was actually fit, exercising was fun! Now that I am unfit, it has become this tireless sprint that seems to get me nowhere. I laugh to myself and promise to suck on my husband's juicy bottom lip later. I pick up the pace once more… if I hurry up and finish I can go and get donuts just a little bit sooner!


By the way…I passed four out of the six people that were in front of me, but five more got on the trail! Donuts anyone????

Jasie Dean Stinky Feet

Birth

JDSF born May 16th, 2007, has rocked our world from day one. He came on his own terms, even though I was scheduled to be induced that very morning! After a rough ride down the birth canal he sported a fist sized hematoma for six weeks that we thought would never go away. That was fun..."what is wrong with his head?" is what we heard from inconsiderate (rude) strangers constantly. I bought baby hats and bonnets in every color to hide the huge bump and boy did it frustrate my picture taking efforts! Thank goodness that it was nothing serious and he was totally healthy other than that.

Birth to 3 months

We had a bumpy road with the breast feeding thing. Whoever said that this was going to be easy and natural was CRAZY! It is painful and frustrating and I spent more hours on the internet researching how to make my baby latch on to my angry nipple than looking for a wedding dress. Nevertheless, he thrived and was a most pleasant newborn. He ate about every four hours and sometimes I had to wake him..."let sleeping babies lie" was definitely my mantra for those three long (looking like I just rolled out of bed) months. Yes...that is all I could stand of having to take two hour shopping trips or vacating to the back room of peoples houses in modesty.

3 months to 8 months

What a pleasant little baby boy he has been! Jase just seems to fit right in with our family. He goes everywhere and does everything like it was always meant to be. I guess with four of us entertaining him at all times, he never wants for nothing;-) He is a busy little guy and keeps all of us on our tippy toes. It is going to take the whole village to raise this one! He is so inquisitive and into everything (reminds me of his daddy a whole lot). He loves music and is intrigued with commercials that have a catchy tune. He is such a precious gift that has brought so much joy to all of our lives. And most surprisingly...Paden absolutely adores him! Cami has turned out to be Jase's favorite person in the whole world and is an awesome little mommy in training. He thinks she is so funny and laughs at her when she is just talking to someone.

8 months to 1 year

My other children were not crawlers. I have gotten so much pleasure watching Jase crawl- it is just so darn cute! I have a feeling that he won't walk quite as early as they did, because he simply won't need to. He loves to go into our kitchen for some reason and can climb the stairs in the foyer as fast as the rising gas prices! We have to watch him like a hawk! He is so goofy and makes us laugh constantly. He mimics our words and I swear I think he has already said shit! Better watch what we say from now on. It could have been much worse;-)

The first year

It has been such a pleasure to have been given the opportunity to do this "baby" thing all over again. I enjoyed my older children so much, but with maturity comes the insight that Jase will be grown before I can blink my eyes. I am way more patient (now that I am old...older) and just allow myself to relish every moment. He has definitely taught me to slow down and enjoy the ride. I think we all forget to do that and hopefully not all of us have to give birth again to realize what life is all about! But more than anything, I have learned that my heart is full of love. That having a child truly is a miracle and these little human beings are such a blessing. Being a mom has been the most rewarding job I have ever had (and one of the hardest now that Paden is 13)! There is no love like a mother's love! I love you JDSF!