Cinderella works in Telecommunications...as a Maid

So I’ve not spoken to crony today except around “S” which is always safe because there is someone else present. Still she finds a way to immediately get under my skin and cause an issue so bad that it has me outside fuming again.

“I need a favor of you” is how she starts. Immediately the hairs on my neck stand up. “Yes?” as I turn to face her. “Make sure if “C” or myself isn’t here and you leave at night, that not only is my radio turned off, but so is the humidifier, and for god’s sake clean out the coffee pot. We don’t have a maid service you know”. To which I calmly replied, “I didn’t hear your radio on, you have the volume incredibly low, the humidifier hasn’t been on in a week, and as for the coffee I normally DO clean it out”. “WELL IT’S DIRTY IN THERE RIGHT NOW!” she says raising her voice slightly but looking like she’s ready to fight. No arguing or reasoning is possible.

“Okay Crony” I say, resigning myself to going outside and torturing myself with the frigid air rather than being in her presence for one more second.

What is it about her that always makes me feel like the proverbial kid with the hand in the cookie jar? I mean how it is possible for me to not have done a THING, not even talked to her and yet still find a way to have done something wrong, I’ll never comprehend?

For you folks, here is my to do list for the office:

1. Change the tape in the server in the morning (even if I’m not the first in, apparently it’s too much for the aged hens of the office to remember to do)


2. Clean out the coffee pot everyday because “We all have to do our part to ensure this office is clean, we don’t have a service that does this for us you know”.


3. Make a fresh pot of coffee on the days I THINK “C” might be in. But don’t make it too early because then it just sits there and she has to remake it. Not only is that a waste of coffee, but it also means someone else has to clean something and well we can’t have that.


4. Make sure the counters are wiped down every time I go in the kitchen or bathroom because apparently the RoM (Range of movement) of any of the hens arms never exceeds two inches in front of them and therefore the counters ALWAYS have coffee grounds, and water spilled on them.


5. Make sure to check all toile paper rolls, and paper towel rolls every morning because undoubtedly if its low, even if I’ve not been in either room at ALL, I will be blamed for not changing them.


6. NEVER ever leave any food (like onions) in the fridge without putting it in a non existent plastic bag for storage because the whole fridge for the 5 minutes the onion remains, smells like onions.


7. Always on Fridays throw out your old food because crony will if you wont


8. NEVER open a new item, use the last of an item, make something no one but you will want, order for delivery on days when crony isn’t here but the rest of the office is, never order for delivery when crony IS here, always pay your taxes on time, and NEVER, EVER let your car registration sticker wait until the last day of the month it’s due because you WILL be chastised by crony for not mailing it in a month or more before the due date despite your financial situation dictating otherwise.


9. Do preparation meditation for the stress that Crony gives me just by being in the office M-W-F.

I’m sure there are more. For now this is what I can think of.

Breathing…. Through clenched teeth, but I’m breathing…

Asshat Defined

ass hat
Idiotic, stupid. To act like a moron.From the popular insult "to have your head up your ass". This imagery leads to ones ass being placed on the head like a hat, hence "asshat".
Taken from the Urban Dictionary

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First let me say thank you to Kelli who posted a comment in my blog after a comment in hers. I have read hers today and been directed to the House of Prince blog which is of course wonderful writing so I just had to post there, and the web just keeps on growing!

Second, let me say thank you to Kelli for the title of my blog today. I was racking my sleep addled brain on the way to work this morning for a catchy phrase to christen this entry with and well… asshat just works :P I love it. Thanks Kelli!

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So I watched the movie Crash last night. I’m still digesting how I feel about it today. Believe it or not it was given to me by the hens of the office to watch and *shudder* it was cronie’s rental so I HAD to watch it (though I would have preferred to watch it with Mr. Uber). In any event, I put it off until 9:30pm (big mistake it’s just about two hours long) and sat engrossed for a whopping two hours. The hens though I hate to admit it, were right. There is absolutely no plot to it. However, for a splattering of reminders of the state of our current world on a localized level, it did exceptionally well. It portrayed relations/relationships/racial tensions/lifestyle accurately. The acting was exceptionally well done also. So while my heart weighs heavy with sadness over how we treat each other (as this movie perfectly reminds me), I have to give credit where it’s due. It was a very very good movie. You should all see it if nothing else to keep yourself aware of the tensions that may not always be evident on the surface of our world (or in some places may be all that people see).

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Crony is in today, so I must blog in the morning. Lord knows she’s probably got some device that counts how many keys I hit. You know what I find incredibly funny (well boring for some of you I’m sure :P) is that she even bothers?! I mean I’m 34 for god’s sake, she’s 65. Doesn’t she have better things to do with her time? I know I do! Ugh

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The Ass hat. In Kelli’s blog she linked to another blog the House of Prince who has some asshat awards to give. I posted a few myself in a comment on both blogs, citing alienware for Asshat of the year (yea, read my post on my forums http://www.utopiaskye.com/ about them) and UPS agreeing with Kelli wholeheartedly.

Why is it the title today? Well 1. It’s funny as hell and 2. Mr. Uber earned the name Asshat in WoW. For what reason I can’t quite remember but among the many names we lovingly refer to him as, Asshat always stuck, secondly only to DJShit, even though technically he’s Mr. Uber :P

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So many things I wanted to write about today and despite the caffeine I’m slowly pumping into my body the images, stories, etc are all scattering quicker than feathers in a wind storm.

Well I’ll just have to think on it and re-post. Sitting here at my boring desk with my boring work at my boring job is not helping to inspire me :P

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Well Wishes

To Kelli – Keep roaring through those twenties, but make sure you enjoy them. They’re worth it. I send you wishes for a lovely day today.

To Kami – I love you honey and miss chatting with you. This weekend will be busy but we’ll catch up sometime… I wish you happiness today.

To Mr. Quiet Strength – Your support remotely through type has been invaluable. Thank you for that. Today I wish you joy.

To Mr. Uber – One of the things I most appreciate about you is the time when we can just stop “being” and be real with each other. Communication like that is essential to friendship and today I’m grateful for that. I send you much love today and strength… you know why.

To Aussie_male – Countless times you’ve always been around when I needed an ear, a shoulder or just someone to come save me in game. Thanks for being someone I could count on online. That is something you don’t see too much anymore. Today I wish you a beautiful day full of whatever it is you wish to achieve.

To Shaun – Your creativity keeps mine alive. I miss that creative comical chat that has given us such great works as “Cheese ravioli, Pickles, and what was the third thing?” Oh yes, and something about porn stars too? Hmm In any event, you are loved and today I wish you peace as I know your schedule is busier than heck.

To Mr. Serenader – Today I wish you patience ;) I know I fail at this a lot… I think I was absent when they handed out the patience prescriptions in life. But a few times now I’ve seen your frustration level rise easily so today because I am your friend I wish you patience and peace.*smile*

To Dana – I cannot WAIT to see you this weekend. It’s going to be a fun Saturday. Today I wish you peace, joy, love, and strength. Ever since “K” popped up again I’ve been thinking nothing but light shielding thoughts for you. I’ll send those always *smile*. Much love to you and Ms. B and Kyle and Bailey and the whole gang.

To Roze – You are a TRIP. I cannot wait to see you again. Today I wish you joy because when you smile your face lights up like a beacon and the whole world should see that always ;)

To Mom – I know you don’t read this but today I send you nothing but pure love. Reflection at 6am as I’m in the car comes all too often like an unwanted visitor, but sometimes like today the reflection is a clear image of the love I’ve been given in life. Today the reflection was of you and I am grateful for you and all you have done. I love you

To all those who have passed in my life that I regularly speak to and sometimes pray to:
Thank you for your love, that even today in this plane of existence that is devoid of your physical light, is felt tremendously at times.

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And Remember:

A great way for to lose weight is to eat naked in front of a mirror. Restaurants will almost always throw you out before you can eat too much. ~Frank Varano

Mrs. Fashionista to the rescue!

I’m in a much better mood now. I do have one thing to say though on the Duke Scandal… I can’t find any reference to it anywhere now when I scan the news sites… Interesting eh?

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The redemption factor of where I work. Her name is simply: Mrs. Fashionista. She makes this place tolerable. We were out at lunch today chatting it up about Crony and the other hens of the office. It’s so fabulous to have someone that understands. (And yes, she is saying these things to me… I’m not speaking to her about them. These are her observations ;) ).

The incident of the potato chip is one such incident that was just out of control. “S” Brought chips into the office for a lunch of hot dogs and such. I know better than to even open anything in the office despite them saying “Oh go ahead, that’s why it’s here”. Yea, right… I know better now. Anyway, “J” opens the chips (I didn’t know this at the time) and I saw them open later and though cool, I’ll have a little bit. Two days go by and yesterday Crony says to “S” when “S” says we have hot dogs for lunch today, Crony says: “The chips are ¾ gone, someone got into them”. And with that she glares at me while I’m copying an order at the copier.

What the @$#% was that?

Before Mrs. Fashionista could get in the door of the office yesterday (looking fabulous in a crème pantsuit with spiked heels no doubt), this little incident was spilling off my lips to her as I stood outside angrily glaring at the parking lot.

Today God Love Mrs. Fashionista and “J”… “J” brought a new bag of chips and spoke of making a wanted poster with his face on it, holding a potato chip. He still swears he’s going to “Bring in about 25 fucking bags of chips and put them in all the filing cabinets”. Hooray for office support!

DAMN my chips today at lunch NEVER tasted so good as they did today while I grinned foolishly. My stomach will thank me later I’m sure, but for the moment it was worth it… every last chip.

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Today I’m trying to think up ways to pick up the office boredom from absolute bang your head against the wall if only so you have to clean up the mess after you shatter your skull, to the tolerable level of mundanely trying to look busy. I’m running out of ideas. I even read the news… ME. I read all about Al Qaeda, Bush, and of course the gossip on all the celebrities. Speaking of which, did you know that some artist in some town made a statue of Britney Spears naked giving birth on a bearskin rug and he’s calling it a Pro-Life piece of work?

Hmm, I’ll have to cook on that one for a while. Luckily the picture doesn’t show her from behind. But I did see enough to say “Yup” it sure does look like Britney Spears.

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The worst about being bored is I lack creativity enough to create fun exercises. I once made an entire word puzzle thingie out of the word “bored”. And a few times I’ve written some poetry. Heck I even wrote Digital Soup at work lol. But I have no writing inspiration as of late and the hens are rabid around here lately so I have to watch how much I type because I think they’re counting my keystrokes lol. Any ideas? I’m up for anything to pass the time.

OOOOH I found a few sites with all these personality tests! Yay, more test to tell me just HOW messed up I am in comparison with the real world!

Ta ta avid readers of my drudgery I’m off to find out if I’m a HOT kisser! (After all enquiring minds DO want to know that I’m sure!)

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Well Wishes

Oh hell today I’ll wish for all the fabulous blogwriters of the world to get more inspiration so they write more so I can read theirs instead of boring you with mine :P

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And remember:

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.
~ Henry Ward Beecher

Friends are precious. xo to my friends :)

It must be the weather, but a lot of people I know seem to be feeling blue. One can’t help it I think when all you see (for the most part) is gloomy days. And for those of us not on the road of perfect happiness in life (does it really exist anyway? ;) ), the world on bleak days can seem like a documentary on the ways of having to live life alone. No sex in the city here, just no sex and well… no city. I hope that today finds some measure of happiness for folks. It’s pretty bleak outside but maybe if we concentrate on the fact that our heart beats and provides life to us, we can let it be our sun. Maybe.

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I find myself today thinking of the ghosts of the past. No I don’t mean people who have died, but those people who have come into my life and simply disappeared. These people have come into my life either online or offline but have made enough impact that their presence is missed when I stop to smell the roses and think of them. I wonder where their life’s journey has taken them and hope they’re well.

Most prominently on my mind this morning, is the woman I once knew as PieOhPah. That was her name in the Sims online. She used to visit the forums on utopia skye from time to time and even though she just lurked, she did occasionally post. She last posted pictures of her son that she and her partner are raising. He’s an adorable little munchkin. I was sad however, when I sent out a mass mailer and her email address came back invalid. When that happens I have to move people to the dreaded “Fell off the face of the earth” group. That group never gets another email, another reminder that hey, someone out here is thinking of you. It means less chance of seeing her again. She is a sweet person, and funny as hell. I will miss seeing her and hope that she decides to pop in from time to time just to say hi.

Which brings me to another point. I will be very diligent in not making this sound like a rant, so bear with me while I work this through. When I entered the online world, I didn’t know it at the time but it was mainly to hide. Somehow, someway and for some reason (still unknown to me) people wanted to be around me. Instead of running from that, I embraced it. I missed social interaction and while I wasn’t ready to do it in real life again, I embraced it online because I missed it. That led to so many things, the forums, the radio station, the websites, friendships, more games, the ability to laugh easily, the ability to share with people from ALL OVER, etc.

Slowly though as time moves on, it seems things are winding down. The interest level just isn’t the same anymore. No one notices the radio anymore (even though they were sad in November when I shut it down, no one listens now), barely anyone responds when I send a yahoo blast with a new post or information or a new thing that might give everyone something to enjoy, and the people who were an integral part of the creation of this machine we know as utopia skye have disappeared completely (sylph and others). I know life gets busy. I know because I’ve denied my life the ability to make me busy. I can’t avoid that much longer, but the point is I know things take us away from what we were doing. But how is it so easy for people to be a part of something that *I* think is very special in that it binds us across miles, it gives us the sight of something so beautiful (Jessie) and allows us to be part of something more than just the mundane world of work, school, etc and be able to just casually let that go.

I cannot do that.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the friends I do have, that I’ve met because of my endeavors online. But I just can’t decide to give all my “all” to the endeavors that once were enjoyed by all, if no one wishes to be a part of them (or very few people do). I guess I just miss the interaction we had, miss the sharing we did, miss seeing people’s faces from time to time with a tale of their life (good or bad) that would at least keep us in the know. I’m sad that the message of “just take a moment and let people know you’re there and you care” is lost as life blinds people with busy-ness.

I hold people that I’m meeting and dating accountable for their level of engagement with me. Meaning I have said time and again, do not engage someone if you do not intend to at least make an effort to be around and be consistent. We’re all guilty at times of this, including me. Just come around and take 5 minutes to visit. I work hard to give things to everyone and have done so for over three years. I’m happy to do it…as long as there is someone to do it for.

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Well Wishes

Today I have a message of wellness for all those who’ve come into our lives, past, present and those yet to be. May your day today provide you with sunshine even through the bleakness of gray.

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And Remember:

The greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.

~ Cindy Lew

I thought this was a good picture. I added some text and some art stuff :D

(Thank you stock exchange for the base picture!)

Let's all go to the Cork & Screw! You know you want to ;)

Its funny today I decided that I was going to shut down my personal ads. Today I get a response from a very nice articulate 46 year old. He is on the edge of being in the acceptable range, but he was intelligent, respectful, and refreshingly honest. I went against my rule, and responded to him. Welcome Mr RDG to my world of friends. I’ve had only a few email contacts with him, but they’re nice. I enjoy them. Intelligent conversation is a wonderful treat nowadays. I live in a world of fast gaming, who loots what first, what color the item is and if it’s bind on pickup lol. (online gaming) Sometimes it’s nice to just sit down and REALLY think about what you speak. For those precious few folks I’ve met through my experience dating, I thank you for that. (yea, that’s like two people lol… I guess I’m lucky).

Moving on, I was never against anyone of any age contacting me, but I do not seek a relationship with someone who is too far in age from me. I think this is a normal thing to say. Too much age difference presents its own unique communication issues. 10 years for me as far as younger, is the max I’ll go. 12 years for me as far as older is the max in that direction. Why more on the older side you ask? Because men who are older (40+) seem to be (in my experience) wiser. They can still “let their hair down” and just as quickly be able to be men and be serious about life. They also think truthfully (mostly) with the larger head. That itself is key.

Since being out in the “wild” so to speak again lol I’ve come to some very important realizations. Some may be widely already known but for me they were eye openers. Here are a few of them:

1. Guys MAINLY want one thing. They may want a committed relationship to go along with that one thing; but generally guys no matter how they get it, want one thing.


2. There ARE exceptions to the above realization, but again GENERALLY if they are outside that norm, they’re either gay, divorced, or grown up enough (no matter the age necessarily. I know some VERY mature younger men) to realize that the old adage of having to “sow their oats” doesn’t apply anymore.


3. Of those exceptions, no matter the reason they’re the exception; those people are generally very nice. Hats off to you exceptional guys. The few, the proud, the ones I seek friendships with. I’m glad I know you

There are so many more but who the hell wants to read a novel about my realizations that everyone has known since forever. Not me :P So onto greener pastures and hopefully better writing :P

And yes, to answer the burning question on everyone’s mind (or answer the question I THINK you all want to know) I have officially shut all but one ad down and that ad is just there because I don’t remember how to close it :P

I think that I’ve had enough integration into the world of reality for now. I have made a few contacts and will enjoy cultivating those friendships. If nothing pans of them; then so be it. I can still proudly hit my “I WIN” button because if nothing else I have made some friends.

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About the cork and screw... Mrs. Fahionista at work (one of the only women I get along with in the office) took me to lunch today. She asked “S” about where that place was that we all went before… You know the “Cork and Screw”? We all had a good laugh at that since it’s called the Kerry Piper lol. But Mrs. Fahionista just is awesome and I laugh so much when with her. For those of you who have purchased my first book (YOU DAMN FOOLS! j/k), I wrote a poem about her because believe it or not she alone gave me inspiration one day.

Mrs. Fashionista is a woman who in her late forties, still wears stiletto heels and looks like she’s about 35. She is always put together and not just in appearance also in attitude.

When I was in my teens, I remember once being at a grocery store and seeing this woman. I never saw her face, but I’ll never forget her. She had jeans on and heels. She had long hair perfectly styled and she wore this red cape type thing. She was just so confident, sexy, and all I wanted to be. Mrs. Fashionista represents that person to me. Perhaps that’s why I like her. Or it could be her absolutely fabulous taste in humor, wine, and her definition of fun. Ok I admit, it’s also probably because she COMPLETELY understands my dislike of Crony and she not only understands, but she GETS IT. Lol. That is worth a lot in this office.

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Hey guess what? Researchers say that if you don’t get more than 6 hours of sleep a night you will be prone to heart disease, obesity, and all sorts of health ailments. I wonder if I should get more sleep :P

But truthfully thinking about this, because of my work schedule in order to get a good nights sleep (8 hours) I’d have to be in bed by 9pm! Can you imagine? I’m 35, not 70… sigh. I think though, for a week I might give it a go. Wish me luck lol.

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Ooooh and I forgot to tell you I’m on interview three with that company I told you all about. I’m meeting with the president of the company on Saturday. God bless my mom for taking me to the city. We’ll see what happens. Wish me luck with that too… My personality will win him I’m sure, but my body may throw the curveball that I can’t catch. Did I mention I don’t play ball well? ;)

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Well Wishes:

Today I wish Dana, Kami, Mr. Serenader, Mr. Quiet Strength, Mr. Uber, Kyle, Ms. B, Beth, and my mom a wonderful day. I know it’s late in the day to post but the love is still the same for my family and friends (

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And Remember:

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
~E.E. Cummings

The weirdness of Mondays

The quote in my previous post is credited to “Anonymous” just so you don’t think I wrote it or something.  The picture I’ve put the text on is a picture I download from Stock Exchange, a site that for the most part allows royalty free image use (Some pics require notification, this one… did not).  

Monday Monday…

Where to being? Well it was a glorious morning in that Crony started at 9am today and “S”  didn’t come in until after 8am.  What a difference an hour makes.  If you’ve read my “Jellyfisher Alert” post, you know that Crony has been listening to how often and how much I type for god’s sake.  It’s official this place is officially a dive lol.  Oh well lamenting my issues with my current workplace wont change it now will it?  
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Well I went over to Mr. R’s house last night more out of obligation than anything.  I was supposed to see him Saturday but I’ve been off and on sick this past week and I was very busy (shocker, I know!) so I was behind and as such stayed home instead.  His house was nice, decent size.  But I have to say the interior was a shot straight out of the movie “The 40 year old virgin”.  I kid you not, even down to the entire wall of monster toys and comic books.  Apparently he’s big into comics and monsters.  Talking with him is a bit like listening and peppering the conversation with my snippets whenever possible.  Also he’s got this way of speaking that sometimes can grate on one’s nerves.  But overall he’s nice and gentlemanly.  When he hugged me yesterday he hugged me a tad bit longer than normal and so I (being a typical virgo) brought up my expectations again, “I’m just seeking friendship blah blah blah”.  He understands of course, but I wonder if by even talking with him if he thinks something else…

Mr. Bongo Boy (also known as mr. M) called yesterday.  I’m not sure if I should return his call.  I had a decent time at coffee with him, but I do not think I wish to do it again.  What’s proper etiquette here?  Anyone?  Lol

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Last night I had a swirl of thoughts running through my head.  I went to bed with too much on my mind and as a result couldn’t sleep.  I was up every hour until about 4am when I fell asleep for one blessed whole hour before I had to get back up for work *sigh*.  

Sometimes I wish I could just put my brain on digital download at night or like Dumbledore in Harry Potter, have a penseive to place my thoughts in.  I write some of my best poetry, stories etc at night just as I fall asleep.  And they never get written down…  A shame really since my inspiration these days seems to come and go like the elusive sunny day during a rainy season.  

Some snippets of random thoughts from me today:
The vast corridors of my heart echo with the footsteps my soul places in them.
The secrets I have inside under lock and key while known to some have even deeper sub-chambers, known to none.
When sadness clings to your throat like the proverbial knot filling you with inability to speak, how is it possible to have your heart speak a thousand words?

Bits of Random Poetry from me today:
(yea so I had some and then I erased it *sigh* how does one write when all you think is that you write shit).

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I’m in a weird state today.  I shall end this blog with that statement.  Well wishes are abundant, but they struggle to the surface to be spoken.  Today, instead they are whispered silently to all.  My secrets and deep feelings are what are on my lips today and they must be kept secret, therefore they won’t be posted in this blog.  

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And remember:

Voici mon secret. Il est très simple : on ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.(It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye)

~Antoine Saint De Exupery; “The Little Prince”

I love this quote

JellyFisher alert (Bridget Jone's and the Edge of Reason quote)

The jellyfisher is as Bridget Jone’s describes, a person that when you’re talking to them you’re reminded of a jellyfish that you’re swimming with and getting repeatedly stung by…  Enter Crony.

And today just keeps getting worse…

Crony just said to me “You should be a legal secretary” and I say why? And she says because you’re always typing and typing.  I didn’t realize we had all those long things, letters, etc to type, I thought we had mainly forms.  I laughed and said well that’s why I’m typing them isn’t it?” And this morning I overheard her mentioning to “S”… “Just spending your money…”  Lovely.  Happy day.

What a @$#%$@

Happy Friday everyone.

Life is good...Trixie Truths

Life is good…

(More Trixie truths on my forums at www.utopiaskye.com)


Well today is Friday and that alone is worth a smile. It’s been a few days since I posted so this may be a long one, I suggest coffee or at least something with some caffeine ;)

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Old Age

Man it’s creeping up on me. I know, I know you’re saying “my god, you freak , you’re only 34!”. Yup but I just noticed after the fifteenth time of trying to enter the damn word verification to post a response in my OWN BLOG, that I wasn’t able to see the letters. Either that or the system was bugged (please let that be the case). But either way I could not for the life of me get the letters right so I had to remove word verification *sigh*.

It was the computer, honest… it wasn’t me that made the mistake ;)

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I’ve been thinking how to cleverly and humorously post the doings about my job lately, but as much as I try all I smell is wood burning when I try to hard. So here it is, a work rant.

On Tuesday I was sick but came into the office. All week long I’ve heard the grumblings of people talking about me. No, I’ve not heard anything directly, but you know the feeling when people were *just* talking about you but stop when you enter the room? Yea, I know that one too this week.

Waiting for Julie to come in has been my only relief. She’s wonderful and such a joy to be around. She manages somehow to keep crony off my back.

Wednesday when I was in and on the phone at lunchtime (I’ve resorted to going to my car at lunch so I’m not bothered during my lunchbreak because no matter what if I’m sitting at my desk it’s like open season…). When I come back in Julie tells me “What happened here the other day?” Perplexed I said huh? Lol She said “well Crony mentioned at lunch today that When all hell broke loose Monday…” I sighed and related to her how “S” had been golfing and I had been out violently ill with food poisoning or some type of bug. And I followed that up with, but I worked from home ALL DAMN DAY. So whatever about “Hell breaking loose”. So the impression that is passed around the office is of course, that I did nothing Monday. Nice huh? I’m glad I work in a small place where they respect you… Where nepotism doesn’t suffer the stereotypical problems that one would assume it would right? /sarcasm off.

So here we are yesterday at the work “Christmas party”. This party was had because back in december when it was originally scheduled it snowed so bad that no one made it except people like me who were afraid not too and spent 3 hours getting there…

A table of 9 is set at this wonderful restauarant (the food really IS awesome), but it’s run by “J’s” sister’s son. So the whole time everyone is talking amongst themselves and I’m just sitting there.

I’m no wallflower lol believe me. I have no problems jumping in when there is an opening but save for a very few times, there just wasn’t one and on top of it, the torture continued as I was seated next to crony. Man could the night get any worse?

Yup

I went home fairly early (thank god) and spent the night chatting with some folks on yim. Then about 10 or so I sat on the couch just changing channels for a little bit when it hit me…. I was sick… AGAIN. All night I struggled not to get sick. Then I start worrying ok what’s wrong with me? The only thing I can think of at this point is food allergy. I still don’t know. But do you think I’ll be telling them that their precious cousin of so and so nephew’s aunt’s brother’s kid’s food made me ill? Hah, right.

The long and short of it is that again, I’m ill and I’m at work. No one here gives a shit, they just notice that “C” worked Monday with a sore throat and “oh poor thing she has to go skiing Sunday and doesn’t want to be sick”. Right…

*****
On the dating front there hasn’t been too much activity, though I will say I’m seriously tempted to post an email I just received yesterday. It was just too much. I read several blogs lately and some of them are all about this topic. Here are some of the best lines:

From Mrs D:
Some women and men just don't get it. *IT* being basic social ettiquette. I am not even sure some can be taught *it*. I wonder why as human beings we create so much drama about things. I also wonder why we are so thoughtless. I know God gave us free will, but did he have to give us such loser characteristics? I mean, what is that all about? I guess this means that we have to gut a whole lot of fish before we find one worth reeling in.

Ms. R:
I'm not looking for perfect grammar but how about using spell check and punctuation sometime? And nothing is sexier than a grown man writing like an 8th grader, i.e. "how r u? i think ur pic is hot!" Please, is it too much to ask that you compose a decent sentence using nouns and verbs instead of consonants and vowels as words? Oh yeah, and telling me how sexy I look in my pic will really get you in my pants. Seriously.

The Fish:
I honestly appreciate when men at least go to the pretense of making a date if they’re after some nookie. And frankly, if he can’t be bothered to make a proper drunk dial (or fucking spell out the word y-o-u), he’s likely to be lazy about a whole bunch of other stuff.
If you catch my drift.
Perhaps I’m being fussy. But I’m a sucker for some finesse and a little bit of sweet talk. I mean, is it really so much to ask to be treated like a girl? To be handled with just a little more care than say, the guys in his Fantasy Football league?
God, I hope not.
And to the guy who says, “I didn’t clean up my apartment because I didn’t want to put up a front and make you think I was cleaner than I am.” I say, put up a front! Be cleaner, be nicer! Allow me at least a few good months of ignorant bliss.
Because by then, you’ll probably be farting in bed and a little mess will be the least of my grumbles.


Maybe people can take lessons from those folks, because I sure understand what they’re saying. And just because I’m feeling Ornery today, here’s a copy of the email that I received yesterday.

Hello am M i am a native of city, state well i am a native of city, state i am divorce with a 10 years old kids which name is R but it was unfortunate that my dad is dead about 5 years ago and my mom and i is left with our faith but that does not make me stop my hard working. i am XX years of age single and looking for an honest lady well my friends describe me as a honest man with a lot of heart, that likes to have fun. i am self employed art and painter so I work alot when I have time I like to go to dinner, movies, performing arts, sporting events renting movies, walks in the park, and relaxing at home and watching football. I'am not in to going to bars that much, so it's hard to meet new people, if your not out that much. I would like to meet someone that is self starter has goals likes the better things in life, honest likes to laugh and have fun. Always friends first. About myself, honest, heart of gold, I love to do for others, like to try new things, and all the regular things pls dont hesitate to mail me back and it will be my great pleasure to recive ur yahoo instant chatting ID u can as well contact me direct on yahoo instant chatting here is my yahoo instant chatting ID (withheld)

All I ask is that you take the time and actually show me you give a shit about me and what you’re trying to convey by using spell check, and/or having a friend proof read what you’re sending.

And another:

Im So happy We Can talk now ' Your so Wonderful Sweet Kind And tender And I Love Knowing Your In My life To Share and Talk With I have Need That for a very Long Time , I need The real love In My life So much All The Good Things ' And here Is Some Pictures For You Hope That you Like Them (SMILE) From J "

What have we known each other for years? Have we dated for years? I don’t even KNOW you.

I want a relationship, truly I do, but I won’t rush one. I’m not looking for a quick fix, and I know that I’m looking for someone I want to take the time with to cultivate a solid relationship. When is it that we’ve lost what dating and courting was?

Maybe I’m just too old fashioned. I mean don’t get me wrong I’m not talking going through Victorian courting rituals, but please treat me like I deserve some respect. Spell, Grammar, Ask don’t assume, and never try for just sex under the guise of love. You won’t get it with me. I may have little self esteem, but trust me I KNOW I’m worth more than that…

*****
I am on my second interview today (phone) with a company that is just moving their corporate offices to Chicago. Their web address is http://www.itpnet.com/ and I would love people’s opinions on this. Let me list out my scenarios.

Pro: The company is small, has good integrity and business practices.
Con: They’re located in Chicago (I know this isn’t a big thing for some, but as most of you know I’m petrified of the city and train expense is at least $139.50 a month, and we wont even talk about the TIME needed to get to work on time and get home…)
Pro: full benefits package including 401K, tuition reimbursement and a pay increase of about $10,200 (I think, at least, I’m not sure until I talk to them, but that’s the range anyway)
Con: Half of that increase will go to further travel costs, and clothing costs, something I’ve not had to worry about. In this job I will be interfacing with customers and so I will need better clothing.

Pro: The job has the “potential” to become a work at home position in the future.
Con: potential is not the same as definite. Even if potential is true, how long before we get there? Years?

Pro: The company has solid hiring practices and procedures in place to make sure they get quality people not quantity.
Con: the job is a 4 month contract to hire position. (I understand there is a LITTLE room for negotiation on this like maybe a 90 day notification clause, but I’m not certain yet).

Con: The job involves traveling to see clients.
Pro: if I can get past the “need” I have to be at my computer all the time on games, and get past my fear of flying and of not having money in an emergency situation whilst traveling, then this doesn’t have to be a con, but to start with unless those things are addressed, this is a con to the job.

So there you have it. For the most part this is what I’m thinking of. The second phone interview is today at 11:30am and if that goes well they want a face to face tomorrow in the city. I am going to tell them even if it does go well that I can’t do tomorrow (I truthfully cant’ I forgot I have to fast tonight, as I have a physical tomorrow morning that I can’t miss because I need the lab work back in time for my appointment beginning of April.) and that if they’re interested, I’ll need time to consider this and would love to get together another time. But I would really LOVE to hear some feedback on this from you folks…

*****
Which reminds me I have to get up early again on another Saturday and what’s more I can’t eat tonight *cry*. That SUCKS!

Crap that means I can’t go out tonight with either Mrs. D or Mr. R. DAMNIT ! It was either to be sushi with Mrs. D or food and wine with Mr. R. Now I can’t do either! *sigh*. I’m going to go sulk for a while.

*****
WELL WISHES

Today I wish myself well that I don’t kill someone while a. fasting and b. nurturing a fear of needles that I’ll have to overcome at 8am tomorrow morning *cry*

And to everyone else I send you all love and peace today, it’s Friday, smile it makes you look younger :P

*****
AND REMEMBER…
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons because, to them, you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

The past is alive and well...

Date:    Fri, 12 Nov 2004
From:    CHICwit
Subject: A love story

From: “A friend”

I can't believe how HELPFUL everyone was with my request about classmates.com. I hope everyone received my thank you. I actually want to share the story with everyone in case someone can help me.

My guy friend is actually looking for someone he dated in high school.  The short story is that they had a great relationship, but he chose someone else and he has lived to regret it. BELIEVE ME. Anyway, he has realized that he was a big jerk and wants to find her to at least get the chance to tell her that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. If he had stayed with her his life would have been better and happier.   He knows this without a doubt. Even if she wants to spit in his face he wants her to know that he has been miserable since and that he always thinks about her. He hopes she is happy and wishes her the best.

Her name is SW and she went to Bishop Noll in Hammond, IN. She graduated in 1989 and he got some tips but nothing has panned out. The latest one is that he can find her through the Bishop Noll Alumni Directory. So my next question is there any Bishop Noll graduates that belong to the alumni directory? Please e-mail me.

Thank you,
“A friend”

*****
This is the letter that was part of a fairy tale.  My friend had finally convinced me to join Chicwit, the Chicago networking mailing list of over 7,000 business woman, entrepreneurs, etc.  After a month of trying, on November 12th, my registration became official.  I got my first email that day and Item #9 in a list of 20 items in discussion was called simply “A Love Story”.  It caught my eye and I read it thinking, “How sweet!”  Not only does someone truly care for someone else, but it’s a past love too!  Then I read the last paragraph and sat stunned for about 5 minutes at work before I literally jumped out of my chair.  The person “A friend” was talking about was ME!

I could hardly believe it.  I called my friend and made sure she read it and together we both just stammered around while I tried to figure out who could possibly be looking for me.  I didn’t date all that much in high school, but I had a few boyfriends none of whom were terribly serious.  In any event I emailed the poster immediately and gave my cell phone and tried VERY hard to put the whole thing out of my mind so I could focus at work.  

At 5pm that night my cell phone rang and on the other end of the line was Mr. D; a man I hadn’t spoken to in about 16 years.  The short end of it, is that he convinced me that very night that he must see me.  I felt bad as he had been looking for me earnestly for the better part of two years so I agreed.  We met, we had dinner, we had coffee at borders afterwards, and then he kissed me gently on the lips as he said goodbye at around 10pm.  

I’ve not seen him physically since then.  

He stopped calling.  He didn’t return calls and when he did it was begrudgingly.  It hurt, simply because for the first time in my life and at a crucial time in my life I had been lifted up and placed on cloud 9, and told I was special.  Then as I sat there thinking how things like this don’t happen to me, the cloud was whisked away from under me and I fell all the way down crashing into reality.  

It didn’t matter that I didn’t feel there was a fit for a relationship beyond friendship, what mattered was that he showed me and made me feel for one full day like I was the ONLY thing that mattered in this world.  That’s what hurt when he disappeared.  

I told him at the time what I expected from a friend, in communication and expectations.  Mr. D I don’t think got it, so I let him go.

Why mention this?

Because today I received a voice mail message from Mr. D again for the first time in over a year…  He says he really needs a friend and that he knows he needs to BE a friend in order to have a friend and that now that he’s gotten some shit out of his life, he’s got room for someone special.  

I’m glad he’s reaching out and perhaps with communication and growth he can find what he’s looking for.  

As for me?  I say, Thanks for thinking of me, but you can keep your one night fairy tale.  I deserve the fairy tale AND the reality of someone who cares enough to spend some energy on more than just themselves.  

Be well Mr. D

*****
Well Wishes

You may think me lazy since I’m not mentioning people specifically, but that’s far from the truth.  Today I wish people like Mr. D a day full of growth and learning.  I send thoughts of healthy communication and awareness that sometimes, the things that are wrong in our lives ARE our fault.  Grow in your awareness of faults and self and then you can truly learn and love.  THEN I will be your friend because THEN you have something to offer me back.

*****
And Remember:

 “When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere” ~ François de la Rochefoucauld

Tuesday & the Food Poisoning is just fine...

So much to write today…

When did it become acceptable to have someone work from home when sick?  Let me back up I have quite a few days worth of writing to catch you up on.

Saturday 3-18-06:
I had a date with Mr. M who promised me some bongo playing while he read my poetry.  He also promised me he would write a poem when we met about us meeting.  He delivered on two of the three things.  No bongos were harmed during this date ;)  

His poetry was nice, truthful, honest.  He was nice to talk to.  He held the door open for me and was a gentleman.  He’s definitely a bit out of the ordinary which was nice to see.  Perhaps we’ll speak again.  We’ll see.

Sunday 3-19-06:
Birthday Party for Ms. B who turned a magical 5!  She looked radiant in her pink dress and the party was a smashing success.  It was nicely small, refreshingly intimate and the food was delicious! Thank you Dana, Kyle and Ms. B for a wonderful time *smile*

Sunday on the way home from the party, I was feeling a little tired since I hadn’t slept too well the previous night (I think I got about 2 hours sleep the previous night).  I was looking forward to just laying low and sleeping for a few thousand hours lol.  However my phone rang and Mr. R was on it talking about wanting to go out and get out of the house.  After some hemming and hawing I decided (a few hours later) that I would indeed go to dinner with Mr. R.  So as the night progressed, I found myself getting showered and ready for a second date. Two dates in 16 years WOOT! Go me!

I met Mr. R at a little known sushi place near my home.  He greeted me with a handshake and a big smile.  We talked for about an hour and a half while we munched on sushi.  He was very nice to speak to and even followed up with asking me out again!  We shall see what time will bring.

By the time I got home I was truly exhausted so after a few calls, I went to bed.  Here’s where it gets really interesting, or well at least where my anger begins.

Monday 3-20-06:
I woke up feeling a bit woozy and nauseas.  After trying unsuccessfully so to get dressed and get out the door for work, I finally sat at my computer desk and closed my eyes.  That’s when it all began.  Immediately I ran to the little muses room and discovered truly what food poisoning was like.  

Oh no! S is out golfing!  Who will process the agent orders!  Who will call the repairs!  At that point as the porcelain god became my good friend, I could really care less.  However, not entirely without an ethical conscious I called in sick, but told them I would check voice mail as I could but that I had food poisoning and was very sick blah blah blah.  Food poisoning as you know (or may not) is not treatable by any medication.  They want you to get it out and fast.  Trust me you’re all too happy to oblige.  However, they do say water and rest because your body is really put through the ringer.  I’ve only had one other bout of food poisoning in my life and that was MAJORLY painful.  This wasn’t painful so much as sickening.

In any event, between running to the bathroom a journey which could seem like hours long, I was answering phone calls, making phone calls, and juggling calls between my home and cell phone.  This went on all day.  It got to the point where I was afraid to leave my computer because I had to order something or respond to something.

At one point I had a conference call going on my home phone (a feature that costs me to use it each conference call I make) and I had a call going on my cell phone the battery of which was dying.  And my call waiting was going off with Crony calling from the office to send me my email.  It was RIDICULOUS.  In short I never ONCE rested.  I finally had to tell the people on my phone (S and Mr. P) that I had to go.  S had to go because her golf instructor was calling; I on the other hand had to get sick AGAIN.  I didn’t make it.  

These are the things that really upset me today.  That and I came in today and have been working since 7am.  I tried to eat today and well lets just say that didn’t work.  But because S is on her little vacation (one of about 20 these next few months alone!), I will not be sent home.  

I know this is more a rant than a funny blog but I never promised you gales of laughter each day.  I only promised you MY reality and my reality right now is pretty angry.

I could care LESS about a customer who can’t get DSL service.  I could care less about an agent that HAS to have pricing this morning because the meeting is in the afternoon (and agent who has been documented to NOT sell what we offer anyway, but use our quotes as a stepping stone to further selling someone else’s stuff!).  I could care less about ANY of the bullshit that goes on in corporate America.  I gave up caring about that back in 2001, when corporate America gave up on me.  

The problem is I have to get paid.  And no one is interviewing me for any other jobs so until I can get another job, find a very rich man who doesn’t mind big women, or find someone into philanthropy who believes in my writing so much they throw 45k my way so I can live without a job for a year, I’m screwed and need this job.  

So I guess I’ll make friends with my porcelain god’s relative, the work porcelain god, and make sure everyone in the office hears the lovely sounds of retching today.  Share the love I say.

*****
Well Wishes…
I truly wish everyone well today.  I just don’t have the capacity to verbalize it to you all *hugs*.


*****
And remember (just how I feel right now):

It takes 42 muscles to smile, so instead put up your middle finger andsay bite me in a bitchy tone!

Mr. M Scores Coffee w/promises of Bongos & Poetry

Friday, thank goodness. It’s been an interesting week for sure. It’s been two days since I published in this blog too *gasp*. Oh the horror, the shame! I’m sure you were all just HANGING on my next blog entry weren’t you :P

Now for the news of the day:

I HAVE A DATE!

Yup, the unthinkable has occurred. Someone asked me out and I said yes; though not without a minor change, of course. Mr. M responded to my yahoo ad, and was very nice. When we spoke in yahoo it was as expected for a first time meeting, both uncomfortable and new. We spoke for about an hour when he asked me to dinner (Woohoo!). I politely turned him down in favor instead of a less formal coffee luncheon. Well Mr. M, I truly do hope you live up to your promise of playing the bongos while reading my poetry. I would be totally in awe of a bongo playing poetry reading man. Now, THERE”S something you don’t see everyday :P

In all seriousness though, getting past the relative excitement of this, as Mr. Uber can attest to (he was on the phone with me when this set in) we now sit squarely in the lap of fear lol In my life (meaning the past 20 years of it or so), I’ve been on one quasi type date. Beyond that one dinner (which was really closure for someone from my past – not a date, and even THAT was two years ago) I haven’t been on a date in 16 years! My goodness!

Let’s think about that, when I last went on a date the internet hadn’t even been born (August of 1991 CERN in Switzerland publicized the new World Wide Web project). The Gulf War was just beginning thanks to Sadam Husein's invasion of Kuwait. Grunge as a fashion was just beginning, while Designers including Liz Claiborne, DKNY, and Tommy Hilfinger with their casual fashions, helped dress down Fridays became commonplace. In music, among many other new styles hitting the top 40 country was going mainstream even more, Selena was still alive and was the top Latin singer (her untimely death was in 1995), and Mariah Carey (Mariah SCAREY as I refer to her) and Boyz II Men led the charts with “One Sweet Day” .

(Thanks to the Kingwood College Library’s report on American Cultural History – years: 1990-1999 for all the above informational tidbits, and to wikipedia for confirming dates of things so I don’t look stupid in this post :P)

Aside from cultural changes, what I was doing and thinking about was getting used to having moved from Calumet City where I grew up to joining the ranks of those living in the ritzier suburb of “Naperville”. I didn’t know it at the time, but the person I had become close to (my sister) when we moved, would soon be taken from me. The man I had met while working in a part time job at the library would become my future husband, and this whole time I had no concept of dating. I had no need to worry about dating or finding someone to date me, people just came to me. I kid you not. At this time in my life I was doing modeling, (plus sized modeling) and I could care less if people liked me or not. It just turned out that most did… I was fortunate.

Now, I sit here in total reflection and wonder wow, what the heck am I going to do. I hadn’t really thought of this aspect of dating. What to say? What to do? For the first time ever, *I* have date jitters. Wish me luck dear readers; this could be a total tank due to my inexperience.

It’s strange to be on the short end of uncomfortable where most people normally reside in this situation. I’ve not had to worry like this. I’ve always been confident in public, especially on dates where it was someone else’s loss if things didn’t work out. Now my self esteem is shattered and sitting on the floor in well polished, fractured pieces. Now, I have a lot to lose if my confident inner woman doesn’t re-appear and quickly.

Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’ll come back from vacation in time for tomorrow’s coffee. Perhaps I shall bribe her.

“I have candy…lots of candy, AND avocados”.

*****
Well Wishes...
Today I wish everyone a happy St. Patrick’s Day. May your glasses be full, your drinks be good, and your loves be even better.

*****
And Remember:

“May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you and may the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.”

Erin Go Bragh!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day EVERYONE! Go have some drinks on me :P

Here for all you history buffs is the history of St. Patrick. Go on, tilt that drink and share in the festivity! (See my next entry for my blog updates)

Saint Patrick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saint Patrick
(386—March 17, 493 AD, see below) is the patron saint of Ireland, along with Saint Brigid and Saint Columba. He was born somewhere along the west coast of Britain in the little settlement or village of Bannavem of Taburnia (vico banavem taburniae in his Confessio), which has never been identified with certainty. Sites suggested include Dumbarton, Furness [1] and Somerset, or the coastline of Wales or northern France; another possibility put forward for his birthplace is the settlement of Bannaventa in Northamptonshire, for raiders captured him with "many thousands of people" according to Patrick's autobiographical Confessio, and sold them as slaves in Ireland. The tiny Welsh village of Banwen has often been suggested as his birth place. It was clearly occupied in Roman times, sitting on the Neath-Brecon Roman road and next to the two Roman forts in Coelbren.

Early life
Although he came from a Christian family, he was not particularly religious before his capture. However, Patrick's enslavement markedly strengthened his faith. It was at this time he learned the native Celtic language and the customs of the druids, as his master was a druidic high priest. He escaped at the age of twenty-two, as legend has it, under the direction of an angel, and spent twelve years in a monastery in Auxerre, where he adopted the name Patrick (Patricius, in Old Irish spelled Pádraig). One night he heard voices begging him to return to Ireland, and he thus, by now in his thirties, became one of the first Christian missionaries in Ireland, being preceded by Palladius (died c.457/461).

Britain at this time was undergoing turmoil following the withdrawal of Roman troops in 407 and Roman central authority in 410. Having been under the Roman cloak for over 350 years, the Romano-British were having to look after themselves. Populations were on the move on the European continent, and the recently converted Christian Britain was being colonised by pagan Anglo-Saxons.

According to tradition, St. Patrick fasted on Croagh Patrick for forty days and forty nights

Mission
His first converted patron was Saint Dichu, who made a gift of a large sabhall (barn) for a church sanctuary. This first sanctuary dedicated by St Patrick became in later years his chosen retreat. A monastery and church were erected there, and there Patrick died; the site, Saul County Down, retains the name Sabhall (pronounced "Sowel").

Patrick set up his see at Armagh and organized the church into territorial sees, as elsewhere in the West and East. While Patrick encouraged the Irish to become monks and nuns, it is not certain that he was a monk himself. It is even less likely that in his time the monastery became the principal unit of the Irish Church, although it was in later periods. The choice of Armagh may have been determined by the presence of a powerful king. There Patrick had a school and presumably a small familia in residence; from this base he made his missionary journeys. There seems to have been little contact with the Palladian Christianity of the southeast.

One famous story relates that at the annual vernal fire that was to be lit by the High King at Tara, when all the fires were extinguished so they could be renewed from the sacred fire from Tara, Patrick lit a rival, miraculously inextinguishable Christian bonfire on the hill of Slane at the opposite end of the valley. The season was associated with Easter by chroniclers who followed Patrick's own account in his Confessio.

Patrick was not the first Christian missionary to Ireland, as men such as Secundus and Palladius were active there before him. However, tradition accords him the most impact, and his missions seem to have been concentrated in the provinces of Ulster and Connaught which had never received Christians before. He established the Church throughout Ireland on lasting foundations: he travelled throughout the country preaching, teaching, building churches, opening schools and monasteries, converting chiefs and bards, and everywhere supporting his preaching with miracles. He threw down the idol of Crom Cruach in Leitrim.

Patrick wrote that he daily expected to be violently killed or enslaved again. His Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus protested British slave trading and the slaughter of a group of Irish Christians by Coroticus's raiding Christian Welshmen, and is the first surely identified literature of the British or Celtic Catholic Church[2]. Patrick gathered many followers, including Saint Benignus, who would become his successor. His chief concerns were the raising up of native clergy, and abolishing Paganism, idolatry, and Sun-worship. He made no distinction of classes in his preaching and was himself ready for imprisonment or death. He was the first writer to condem all forms of slavery.
Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though post-glacial Ireland never actually had snakes; one suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time and place, as shown for instance on coins minted in Gaul (see Carnutes), or that it could have referred to beliefs such as Pelagianism, symbolized as "serpents." Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian dogma of 'three divine persons in the one God' (as opposed to the Arian belief that was popular in Patrick's time).

In his use of Scripture and eschatological expectations, Patrick was typical of the 5th-century bishop. One of the traits which he retained as an old man was a consciousness of being an unlearned exile and former slave and fugitive, who learned to trust God completely.

Death: a contentious date
Patrick died in AD 493 according to the latest reconstruction of the old Irish annals. Prior to the 1940's it was believed without doubt that he died in 461 and thus had lived in the first half of the 5th century. A lecture entitled "The Two Patricks", published in 1942 by T. F. O'Rahilly, caused enormous controversy by proposing that there had being two "Patricks", Palladius and Patrick, and that what we now know of St. Patrick was in fact in part a conscious effort to meld the two into one hagiographic personality. Decades of contention eventually ended with most historians now asserting that Patrick was indeed most likely to have been active in the mid-to-late 5th century.
The compiler of the Annals of Ulster stated that in the year 553:

1. "I have found this in the Book of Cuanu: The relics of Patrick were placed sixty years after his death in a shrine by Colum Cille. Three splendid halidoms were found in the burial-place: his goblet, the Angel's Gospel, and the Bell of the Testament. This is how the angel distributed the halidoms: the goblet to Dún, the Bell of the Testament to Ard Macha, and the Angel's Gospel to Colum Cille himself. The reason it is called the Angel's Gospel is that Colum Cille received it from the hand of the angel."

The placement of this event under the year 553 would certainly seem to place Patrick's death in 493, or at least in the early years of that decade.

It is believed that March 17 was his death date (according to the Encyclopedia Britannica) and it is the date popularly associated with him as his feast, known as St. Patrick's Day.

St. Patrick is also patron of Nigeria, which was evangelized primarily by Irish clergy, especially priests from Saint Patrick's Missionary Society (also known as the Kiltegan Missionaries).

The cult of Patrick
Two of Patrick's biographers, Muirchú and Tírechán, are believed to have contributed to the cult of Patrick whereby they overemphasize Patrick's associations with the church of Armagh to make their stronghold as the head church of Ireland more effective. They wrote Life and times of Patrick and Memoir of Patrick in the late seventh century.

See also

1. Cathedral of Saint Patrick


2. Saint Patrick Parish


3. St. Patrick's Purgatory


4. List of people on stamps of Ireland

References

1. NewAdvent.org: St. Patrick


2. Catholic.org: St. Patrick


3. Saint Patrick Centre: Saint Patrick's Legacy


4. MSN Encarta: Saint Patrick


5. HistoryChannel.com: Who Was St. Patrick?


6. IrishAbroad.com: Life and History of St. Patrick


7. AmericanCatholic.org: The Real St. Patrick and Celtic Spirituality