Lauren Reagan Writing Online

Just got an email from a girl I worked with years ago, we still keep in touch once in awhile on the computer, she was a really nice person to work with and I’m glad that we have remained friendly and in touch.Seems her husband received a job offer that sounds too wonderful an opportunity for them to let slid by. I’m excited for her because the job would entail them to moving to New York and she is originally from that area so it won’t be as stressful as moving to a unknown area like when they moved here in the 90′s.

She tells me that she the new company suggested a few New York real estate agents to assist in their relocation, and she seems pleased with the suggestions that they have come up with so far. It is over a 6 hour long drive to that area, and they will be traveling back and forth for awhile until they find the perfect spot. I’m glad they don’t have kids to deal with yet, it will make it easier, she tells me that once they settle in she intends on trying to start a family. What a great place to grow up in, New York, there is so much to see and do, always something going on 24/7, I am envious of them.

I hope she keeps her promise of keeping in touch, the distance factor shouldn’t matter due to each of us having computers and all. Every day I am thankful for the computer and the Internet, it really has made life easier in so many ways, and keeping in touch with old friends and family members, is the greatest benefit of all – as far as I’m concerned!

I love going to the flea markets that will be in full swing next month if by then the weather has finally made it possible for people to set up outside. I always enjoy getting outside, getting some fresh air, and the exercise is certainly welcomed as well. I find the vendors are very nice and are usually willing to give good bargains if you approach them with a kind word and don’t insult their intelligence and integrity. I can never figure out how some people will come up to them and ask if they will take such a small amount and expect them to just smile and take it. If someone is asking $20 for an item, to ask if they will take $5 for it is an insult. I see it time and time again and it just blows me away when they get upset when denied their request!

Anyway, I have had my eyes on one dealer that sells rugs, mainly area rugs. He has been setting up there for years and I have spent a good amount of time looking at his assortment of rugs and talking with him, he is a very nice man and I always look forward to seeing and talking with him when I have a Saturday to spend at the flea market.  Last Saturday, since it was so nice outside, I went to the flea market and noticed that he wasn’t there. I was told that he had experienced bad health lately and was in the hospital. I couldn’t get a lot of details but it apparently has something to do with his heart. I asked the vendor that sets up next to him to relay a message to him that I had stopped by and inquired about him. And asked that he be told that I wish him the best of luck and a speedy recovery.

It can be so frustrating to speak up with ideas at the local monthly Ruritan meetings that I have managed to attend this past year or so, only to be shot down time after time. I was told that this well-known “service club” was in need of some fresh blood and some newer, younger faces, after attending these many boring meetings I can see why they aren’t growing as they should. I swear a couple of the members look and act old enough to be one of the original Ruritans that started back in 1928 with the goal of achieving Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service. They certainly mean well but times have changed and the needs and interests of the community are always changing so they need to be way more flexible and open minded than from what I’m seeing.

They want to start up their yearly “Yard Sale” that they stopped doing three years ago because of several factors that hindered the success, which caused them to just stop holding this possible money making event. Part of the argument(s) is how to get the word out about this yard sale that is supposed to be held over the Memorial Day Weekend. I suggested that we look into postcard printing options and take advantage of the opportunity through the post office to send out a massive and inexpensive postcard mailing to each resident in our small town of just over 2,000. As soon as the suggestion was out of my mouth the “old farts” started in with their negativity without giving me a fair chance to finish what I was saying with all the facts that I had gathered to share with them. I had to catch my breath, count to ten and keep my cool. I plan on talking with a few other members in the next week or so before I stand up and say another word and keep attending these meetings.

I’ve heard much about the Walden University’s online degree programs that are helping so many people get their degrees which ultimately enables them to make the “big” bucks. In these past few darken years of being stuck right smack dab in a major Depression the “big” bucks is what we are all striving for. In order to learn about Walden I spent some time checking them out online, I found at WaldenU.edu that they have a very intensive website that took some time for me to absorb. You gotta remember, I just barely made it out of High School. College was never really in the picture for me, back in those days. All my mother wanted me to do was to become a secretary and marry the rich boss, she never really got over the fact that I ended up in the food and beverage industry, a bar wench.

Anyway, I’m thinking of getting into the Social Services field since I have a good heart and know how to talk and deal with people. I think that I am a compassionate human being that enjoys assisting people in any way that I can, been known to literally give the shirt off of my back to some one that needs it more than I do. Anyone that is dealing with people in need most definitely require a HUGE dose of compassion. Unfortunately what I have found from personal experience and from thousands of horror stories that I have heard from friends, family and my bar customers, is that the majority of these “professionals” are seriously lacking any type of compassion along with a lot of other qualifications that I think are necessary for this type of career. I think anyone that chooses a career (any career really) should enjoy it to a certain extent and not in it just for the money.

I like to think that I help a lot of people while tending the bar, but the tip jar is rarely flowing over from them all. Knowing that I could be doing the same thing and was guaranteed to go home on payday with a sum that would not only pay the rent on a house of my own as well as the utilities, insurance premiums, taxes, and keep gas, oil and decent tires on the car, well it would be awesome. But at the end of the day if I look in the mirror and like what I see because of what I have done for somebody that day that really effected their lives that day well that is just be the ultimate high.

I guess the new thing around here is not only going to the store and starting a gift registry if you’re getting married or having a baby but also sending out a list of gifts you might want for your up coming birthday.  Has anyone else run into something like this? I have a friend that is having a big birthday party and they sent out this list of things they want.

One of the things was a set of ultrasone headphones. Personally I had no idea what they were other than just headphones so I did a search for them.  Boy was I surprised at how expensive they were.  Luckily I found some that were more reasonable than on some other sites. One thing is for sure, I would never send out a list of items I wanted like they did. I mean, it’s okay for a kid to give you a list of things they want but an adult??? I just found it odd, or is it me that’s the odd one here?

I’d love to hear anyone else’s thoughts on this. Times are always changing, new traditions always being brought into the picture. But who ultimately decides on what is the right thing to do. Think about it, we don’t even have the real Dear Abby or the real Dear Ann to turn to  for “proper etiquette” to these days.