I'm Just Sayin'

You know you have heard that a million times in the past few years.  
I heard it just today and let myself stop and think about how ridiculous that phrase is.  
If I said what I said.. I was saying it.  Do I need a caveat?  Need I explain that I am saying the actual words that I just said?

OK OK!
I use that phrase.  I am a satirical master. But when I do use it what EXACTLY do I mean by it?
"I'm just sayin'"   ...   Is it an easy way out to say something rude or insulting or even debasing and since.. "I'm just sayin'"..does that somehow make it socially acceptable?   Am i trying somehow to soften the blow of a deep and penetrating truth?   Do I find the need to hide behind these words so that I do not have to own up to what is following/preceding them?   Perhaps if "I'm just sayin' "   I may not need to be sayin' at all?

Now, most of the time this phrase is used in fun and jest.  I love to joke and am probably one of the more sharp tongued of my friends.  I use too harsh a word from time to time and have to pay my penance of apologies.  BUT.. If ,  I'm just saying.. you look like you slept in those clothes... is it somehow softer than, What? you sleep in those?  I may have to make this a preface to each phrase I speak.   Even if I do find it a bit redundant.  I am saying what I am saying, or I wouldn't be saying it after all.

It has almost become the new "like"...   Listening to my  teens talk, is like, almost, like, a western union telegraph., like....
I am going to the mall (stop), like, so I can, (stop) like, get new shoes, (stop) like, and wear them (stop) like, to the after party.

This epidemic has spread to the adult world as well.   At  a recent business meeting one of the presenters was riddled with the "Like" button.  She said "Like", like 40 times in a single paragraph... I couldn't concentrate at all on what was being said.   Her point was valid, her argument to advancement in the community was endearing, but, like, all the while, I like, was hash marking, every, like that, she, like was saying.  I lost her point completely.  It was, like.. so annoying. Someone should talk to her, not ME!
... I'm just sayin'.

People who need people.

After 10 years in the public eye as a restaurant owner I have come to learn one (of many) valuable lessons
People are ...

I know, you are saying,  "Diva, people are what?   I am hanging on your every word.  Where is this taking us.... What journey of literary and mental explore do we have set before us..?"

Well..  That's all I've got.   People ARE...

They are rude, when they want to be.  They don't care if they hurt you.  Your a service industry person... you are below all else.  

They are right.  All the time.  No possible mind change or value for another's opinion.  They know what they said, wanted, had, felt... And YOU ARE WRONG.

They are spiteful.  They believe they are to be treated better than anyone else in the world and when they FEEL they are not.. They lash out and tell every one and their mothers that I am the worst person in the universe.  

THEY ARE GREEDY.  After all that they will call you two weeks later for a donation, money, free food, special service or my ever favorite 'I have a friend who needs a job'.

but then there are the ones that make your life....
They Are REAL...   They tell you when they get mad at you and talk to you about it.
They Are Sincere...  After that they work it out with you and you grow from knowing them.
They Are Encouraging...  Then they tell others that they really love you and have faith in what you are doing.
They Are Friends...  They just listen  and tell NO ONE.  The believe in you and no matter what they hear around town, they choose to only believe the best.


Yes, my friends... People Are People...
I love them,  I can't stand them, I need them....
Such is life...  So I choose to enjoy all the many diverse "People Are's" I can find.  Learn from them how I need to "are" in my life.  And pray for patience with those who "are" not so caring.

IKEA - My new mecca...?

I trekked to Ohio today with a friend.  We found our way to Ikea.  She needed a bed.  I needed nothing.

Now, I have been to IKEA before.  2 times before.  I loved the compact living space concept.  I adored the little bathroom sinks and stylish doors on every thing.   I love their use of red.   I love the unique use of wall space.

I love the furniture.. the couches...

I am not a big fan of their textiles.  Or the food.  I'ts ok mind you.. but - that takes me to the next stop...
(she got her bed, I got candles and kitchen sundry)

JUNGLE JIM'S... Fairfield Ohio.
THIS IS MY MECCA!
They have cheese.... and cheese... and Irish cheese, and french, denmark, norway, and france and wow!

They have shrimp the size of your hand.  I can't get even started on the wine selection... Today I did not allow myself to even step in that direction (although 2 moscado did find their way in the cart).
They have a health food section the size of a small grocery!   Just the health food!...  The produce section is half a kroger!  (jewel for you northerners).
I strolled around the bakery for 20 minutes... I got a baguette, and a batard, a sourdough and an Italian loaf.
A strawberry cream cheese puff, and apple turnovers for Andrew and Strawberry Cream Cheese for Alex.
 (Alex was devastated that I did not take him - he is a foodie as well).  I also got a chocolate croissant..  i love those.

Diet decimated I went to the section I had been dying to check out.  The Egyptian/Medeteranian area.  Wow.. I have some cool stuff to cook.  couscous... Butter Chicken (curry chicken), a pasta that I can't pronounce...

Then i ran quickly past the cooking sundries - NO MORE STUFF!  

Ireland... oh how drab your flavors ... but how cute your wares...

England.. .mmm nope..

GERMANY - the land of chocolate... I had to....  and I did.
I will be working out a lot tomorrow.
enough said.

Diva Described /or Never Spite a Melanie!

Perhaps what you vision a Diva is not what my description of Diva is.  For me Diva is that person that walks into a room and commands - not DE-mands attention.   They unknowingly control the environment around them.
This has been me.  Sometimes completely unknowingly... other times, yes, I planed and manipulated the situation to put me in the forefront... Why LIE!  

First stories First..
Melanie Spite...
My kindergarten best friend.  She came into my life and I was enamored.  I adored her.  She was as cute as I was, had curls - not as curly as mine - and a sweet smile I remember to this day.  And ...  She was a Show Boat!    Before long, little cute Melanie had her own "catch phrase".   Out of NO WHERE!  I could sing and perform at the drop of a hat... but never in a million years did I ever think, Hey... I need a catch phrase.   She out showed me!

At any given moment of true or trumped up frustration, adorable Melanie would announce  "Stuffed Bananas!"  And my brothers.. MY BROTHERS!  would fawn with adoration on her.  "She is so cute... You've got competition JP (Janie Pie).. Adorable!"    I loved her and hated her all in one emotion.
She was getting MY attention!   But She was my best friend and favorite person.  Heck!  I thought it was adorable and tried to get her to say it.   One day I took "Pokey Little Puppy" (her favorite book) and hid it just so she would say to the Sunday School teacher ..  "I wanted to read it again, Stuffed Bananas!"   I mean really - that is quite adorable.   How dare she.

I pondered Sunday after Sunday how I would win the crowds back.  My long Banana curls drew attention one Sunday morning only to be followed by an announcement by Mel that they looked like bananas all right.... Stuffed Bananas.!...     Really!   My naturally curly flaming red high lit mahogany brown tresses that total strangers would dote on was now a part of HER attention bit?   What a world.

Months went by.  I was loosing the crowd week after week.   She was becoming the Diva!
Then one Sunday morning it happened!   Like a light from the heavens.  My brother chose a song.  Not A song... THE song.   This is it,I thought!   I can sing!  I sing good!   I don't want to be mean to Mel to get attention... This is it!   My favorite Song.
My brother, who was directing the congregation in music, began to sing a hymn.... There is a song that Jesus gave me... It was sent from heaven above... . (this was where I stood on the pew next to mom and belted from the tip of my toes!) There never was a sweeter Melanie!  She's the Melanie I Love.....
In    My    Heart   There    Rings a Melanie, there Rings a Melanie in Heaven's harmony..!
The auditorium all looked and smiled.   Melanie blushed and tossed her curls.  She was enthralled!  She was honored...  She was trumped!   My brother began to giggle and could hardly direct.  My mom was so proud she wanted to burst.   My neighbor's dad said out loud that I was the most adorable child he had ever seen.  So beautiful, and so sweet.     Oh, that was my moment!  And I milked it for all it was worth.  Any time that "Stuffed Bananas" came out..   Rings a Melanie was the tune dujour.

This was my moment of realization of how I work.  I may have only been 4 or 5, but I knew exactly what I was doing, and who I was.   I loved to be the center of attention.  I was  born the center of attention...  I love to entertain.  I love people.  I am true to my friends, even if they are not so true to me.  I would never put one down, to lift myself up.  That would be . . . rude.    (another of Mel's phrases.. How Rude!)    I would rather draw attention to myself by building up or showing off someone I love.   I still do this today.  More with my kids than anything.
Let's face it.   My kids are fantastic... but they didn't become that without good parenting.  Oh.. did I just do that.  Reality check.  Yes..  If it were not for my and my husbands teaching and mentoring my kids would be vagrants and hot heads.  They don't want to do anything and they have the tempers that resemble nuclear warfare.  Push the button and it deploys!   By patience and love, they have been shaped into individuals who keep their personalities, but know how to control the selfish nature.  Of course i am blessed.  I give props to the Creator.  But I would be lying if I said that when people comment on my kid's uniqueness and independent strength, I don't get a little puffed up, I know how they got that way..     Knowing that my work with my children brought someone joy.  Yep...Then I have a bit of a Diva Moment.

As for the song...  It is remembered by many to this day.  I wonder if Melanie remembers, I know my brothers still sing Melanie...