asphaltcowgrrl | A Bunch of Random Stupidity + a Little Good News

So, I'll start with the good news.

On New Year's Eve 2009, my husband lost his job of 17 years. He'd been working for an electrical engineer and the bottom had fallen out of the construction industry here at that point. It took him three years to get a job. Any job. At first, he thought he could get another job working as an AutoCAD drafter but soon figured out that wasn't going to happen. He applied for anything he thought he could do and got nothing. At one point, he went into an interview at a mini-storage place and the guy actually said, "Isn't this job beneath you?" What? My poor husband said, "I have kids to feed, nothing is beneath me."

He didn't get that job.

Eventually, he did get a job working the front desk at a small hotel not far from where we live. The owners are cheap, the place is falling apart, and he was barely making above minimum wage with zero benefits. It sucked and he hated it, but it brought in just enough money to cover the mortgage on our house.

Fast forward to Thursday night. After a very crappy week, we got some excellent news. He'd gotten a call from an electrical engineer here in town wanting to know if he was still interested in a job. Uh, hell yes? He starts on Monday, July 6th and he can't wait. He'll be back to doing what he loves and will be making more than minimum wage for the first time in forever. Not to mention heath insurance, paid holidays, sick days and other perks.

Now for the stupidity.

Last week, my husband tells me he's recorded this show called Killjoys and thought I'd like it. So, I pull it up one morning since I'd just finished season 2 of Heroes the day before and I watch it. It's a pretty good show, a space opera of sorts (reminds me a bit of Firefly). There's a character - Jack - and he looks really, really familar, but I can't figure out why. So, I IMDB him and viola! His name is Aaron Ashmore and has got to be related to Shawn becuase they look just alike. This afternoon, whle we're eating a late lunch, Troy pulls up the second episode and while we're watching it, I relate this bit of information to him. Not that he cares, but whatever. I first have to explain who Shawn Ashmore is (hah) and then he blinks and says, "They look JUST like each other." So, I look on IMDB again to see how their related.

They're. Freaking. Twins.

*headslap*

Yeah, so that happened.

Then, this evening, my in-laws call and ask if we'd like to meet for dinner at P. F. Chang's. Duh. Of course we do. So, we meet up with them and get settled.

I'm going to start by saying I love my in-laws. They're great people and have helped us out so much over the years, especiallly during the time when Troy was unemployed. That said, I hate going to restaurants with my mother-in-law. She is so freaking picky it makes me crazy. Thankfully, today she liked everything that was served, the waiter was amazing and all was well. Kinda.

She's notorious for ordering a tiny appetizer as her meal (she's forever on a diet, trying to lose weight). Which would be fine but... she likes to graze off everyone else's plates. Um,back off my food woman. Eat off your husband's plate, eat off your son's plate, hell, eat off your grandchildren's plates but KEEP YOUR FORK OFF OF MINE. I don't know why this bugs me so much, but it does. Now, if she said, "Oh, that looks good, can I have a bite?" I'd lift my plate up and hand it to her. But she never asks. She'll say, "I've gotta have a bite of that." Nope. No you don't. Does that make me a bitch? Because she could order a full-sized meal you know.

By the end of the meal, it's a moot point. After three beers, my father-in-law is eating off my plate, too. But, in his defense... he's had three beers. If I tried to stop him, he might stab me with a fork. I was born into a nutty family and married into an even nuttier one.

On a much happier note, I have a crapload of Kung Pao Chicken in the fridge for later. Hahahaha.

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I am so thrilled for your husband about the job! That's awesome news! I so get how that can be - while my husband doesn't have a trade as such, he did lose a job some years back and end up being a house-husband for 2-3 years when my daughters were small (I went back to work when my second daughter was 3 months old rather than take the full year of maternity leave we'd planned), and now has a job in the same government department where I work that pays less than mine and he has to do a job that has him pulling his hair out most days, but its a job!

as for your MIL, I'd be so with you there! other people's plates are off-limits unless you have a direct blood link AND they don't mind!

As for the Ashmore twins, I must admit that I could have told you that! Next time, just ask! HA! I know so much useless crap about actors!!! I know Shawn from The Following (ironically, the show features twin characters who are played by ONE person!), and saw that his brother was in another show I'd like to see, but have yet to, Warehouse 13... (he plays gay, I understand, so I must naturally check this out!)

Thank you! He's beyond happy and that makes me happy too. I think it's really hard on the guys to lose their jobs, even when they're modern. Mine always joked about me being his sugar mama, but not contributing took a toll on him. So happy to hear your husband found something though, even if he pulls his hair out over it. I honestly think it's easier to find a better job once you have a job. It's like karma's way of making sure you know you're getting something better because you've been suffering for so long. LOL

Right? I try not to ever sit within arm's reach of her, especially if I have fries. She swears she doesn't like them, only wants one, but eventually her hand's in your plate more than your own is. LOL

Hahaha... *makes note to ask H anytime she has a celebrity question* I first saw Shawn in the remake of Mother's Day, but I explained who he was by using his role in The Following for my husband. I want to say that my husband watched Warehouse 13. I've heard it's a good show, too. And he does? That'd be worth it for the watch.

I'm entirely happy to be asked, any time. FYI, the cuter he is, the more I'm likely to know. :D

HAH. But of course, right? :D

Well, since H put lovely, kissing boys here, I will too, lol....

Congrats on the job news, that is fantastic. I've had a couple of jobs that came to me months or even a year after I applied - it's like a strange and wonderful gift out of nowhere when that happens. Best of luck, hope he loves it!

The eating off the plate thing - yeah. It really must be a more intimate act than I'd considered, 'cause I have the same reaction. My mom or my siblings? Fine, have some. Anyone else.....ewww. I have a friend who moved away recently, but before she did we went out to dinner once a month as a way of catching up/keeping in touch. She was always offering bites of her food and I would politely decline - and put up with her asking to try mine. I always wanted to say, 'will you eat your own freaking food, please?'

Funny what we'll put up with for a dozen damn years rather than make someone uncomfortable once. Ha.

I like this game! :D I have some kissing boys, too!

He's so excited and it's wonderful to see. And right, even the crappy job he has now came out of nowhere. Thank you though, he can't wait.

See, that's how I feel. I think that as a mom, I'm used to feeding my kids off my plate, so them taking food doesn't bother me. I've known my BFF since I was 10 and I'm not sure I'd be okay with her eating off my plate. Hahahaha... my co-worker basically just said something similar. "I made this plate for me, get your own food!"

Oh amen, especially when it's someone we care about. :)

Oh my gosh, I know EXACTLY what you mean about food grazers! I am super protective of my food. I mean... it's mine, after all, right? Now, I could see if it was a lavishly expensive meal that she was paying for, but even then taking without asking is super rude. I'm the kind of person who will generally offer my plate and ask if anyone wants a bite if I feel like sharing. If I don't offer, it's because I plan on eating that meal myself. LOL, sorry for the rant, but I literally had someone not half an hour ago snag a slice of my pizza out of my pizza box and I am super not cool with that. No one takes my pizza. XD

In other news, congrats to your husband! I'm so thrilled he'll be back to doing what he loves rather than what will simply make ends meet. That's awesome! :DDD

Edited 2015-06-29 18:46 (UTC)

Hahaha... I've been reading these comments and I'm telling you, I feel so much better now. And I absolutely agree, if I offer up my plate of Kung Pao, feel free to have a bite. Just do not stick your fork in my food uninvited.

Ooooh... yeah, stay away from my pizza!

Thank you! He hasn't been this happy in a very long time. :D

Hey there!
Congrats to my second favorite nerd! (lol) (Hey, but my *first favorite* ginger nerd. :) That's beyond awesome news. I understand completely, as you know, so I'm so excited for him. Good luck to him in the new job!

Another vote for the plate sharing rules of etiquette. Only when offered or asked to take a bite. Other than that, the bitee will risk getting a fork through their thumb. :)

Congrats again!

ROFL - thanks! He's really excited, too. Yes, I know you definitely understand. :)

Right? And if she asks permission, it's when she's already in your food. UGH. I've learned to deal with it, but I don't have to like it, eh?

Thanks!

This morning, on my way to work, I was wondering if I'd responded here and clearly I haven't as it's been that kind of week, but I'm finally getting to make a dent in my 500+ lj in box so...

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

After such an insanely crappy week for you I am so thrilled at the over the top good news! That is epic! Superfantastic EPIC! And I shall think happy thoughts for him again on the way to work on Monday. I know the joy of leaving a work whenever we tell you to for crap pay and going to a M-F except holidays and real vacation and here let me pay you like you do a job I value job.

AWESOMESAUCE!

Also, if it's not a tapas restaurant, don't eat like it's a tapas restaurant!

SO EXCITED!

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thank you so much. The things he's had to deal with working in this place... cheap owners, a drunk maintenance man, a breakfast worker who routinely comes in high, a morning worker who recycles used paper and envelopes... LOL He's so done. So THANK YOU!

OMG - YES! And it's not Bucca di Beppo, serving food family style either. KEEP OUTTA MY PLATE. :D

*HUGS YOU CAUSE HE ONLY HAS ONE MORE NIGHT OF THIS MADNESS*

Really, you only share food if everyone is drunk AND the food is amazing.

My niece works overnights at a cheap chain hotel and is frequently freaked out by things that happen. I am freaked out that there is a 22 y/o girl working 3rd shift and no other person there until 7 am. But when you add in Vegas, *sigh* that poor man.

ONE MORE NIGHT TILL NORMALCY!

RIGHT? And in the scenario above, by the end of the meal, that's pretty much where my FIL was. LOL

UGH. I can only imagine what she comes up against. And that's a really scary situation for a young woman to be in, too. I think my husband's only saving grace is that he's not actually in Vegas, but a small town on the outskirts, near Lake Mead. So, crazy things happen but not nearly as often.

ONE MORE NIGHT! ONE MORE NIGHT!

(...and now I can't get Maroon 5 out of my head...)

A Bunch of Random Stupidity + a Little Good News

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