And this is the real Prissie . . .

I’m not talking little extreme but quite the opposite way extreme. I’m talking the one and only ‘Prissie’ and the capital P should give that away. Recently, I talked about living one life on Facebook/social media and another life in the ‘real world’. I am the first to say how quirky I am, that I am old, and that I have no intentions of changing with the times. My time on this earth has been the best there is or could be and I intend to stay with what has worked for 100+ years. Now, that being said, I am one of the most obstinate, stubborn, set in her ways, one-sided person you will ever meet.

I do not know why you have to roll off three or four sheets of paper towel to do a job that was designed for one sheet. Trees are a valuable resource that need to be protected. Why would anyone turn the water on and let it run forever and a day while you are putting soap on your hands or standing in front of the mirror or at the sink trying to decide what you’re going to do. Well water is free (except for electricity for the pump), and I get that but there is a charge for city water and every gallon inflates your sewer bill so let’s be sensible. I fuss over the simplest things, jump at any unannounced noise (just ask anyone who has ever been in a car with me or worked in the same room with me). I fuss when things are not put back like they were found, doors not closed and it doesn’t matter if it’s closet doors, cabinet doors or any other kind. If it was closed when you found it, make sure it’s closed when you leave it. Refill ice trays (yes, I have ice trays and I do NOT want an ice maker in my freezer. They don’t walk to the kitchen sink to get refilled by themselves I promise you. And, IF you fill them, fill them to the rim with Brim – remember that commercial? It was one of my favorites so humor me and follow it.

If you don’t want to wash the dishes you dirtied, then at least run some water over them to save someone some scrubbing because as far as it goes for me,  I do not own a dishwasher and do not want one. The noise would drive me nuttier than I already am. I fuss when I see someone walk by something multiple times that obviously doesn’t belong on the floor (dead leaf, a piece of paper, whatever) and just thinks it’s magically going to pick itself up and take itself to the closest garbage can. That brings me to another point. I can compact trash better than the best compactor money can buy. If you don’t believe that, ask anyone who has ever been a member of the breakfast crew – they will tell you how much trash I can compact. You know when you open a roll of paper towels, and that plastic wrapper is like spilled milk? It multiplies. Well, it wouldn’t be if you pushed it inside the empty tube of the roll you just used up and are discarding!

Do you see what people who live with me or work with me have to deal with now? And it matters not whether it is my money or someone else’s money. If a dollar can be saved, then save it. You may have recently read a post I made about my bargains at Dollar General. I didn’t use one thing I bought there that weekend, but lots of other people did. A professor at Chipola once told me, “Never buy anything when you “HAVE” to buy it.” He went on to say he had never paid more than $2 for a shirt and was very proud of the 75-cent shirt he had on that night. I have never forgotten that so I hoard, I buy, I stock up and I honestly don’t know that I can be broken from that. Trust me, my family has tried as have countless others.

I am the same way with work and accountability. If you don’t like where you work, find something else. If you like where you work, then appreciate the job you have and do it honestly, give them what they’re paying you to do. Summer hours drive me nuts because, as a rule, they do not work. Just say your normal hours are 7:30-4:30 with an hour for lunch, five days a week. It’s summer so we are going to work 7:00 – 5:00. And let me see, are you not going to eat, take a break, nothing for 10 hours? I don’t think so. And as far as the excuse, “I work a lot from home,” save it for the fiddler. I was talking with someone the other day and asked them a question thinking they were at their office. They said they were not, that they didn’t feel well and was working from home? Excuse me? You don’t feel well, you are sick but you’re working from home?

Recently, someone told me my doctor was concerned about me working too much and went on to add that the last time I was in the hospital, I had a desk, laptop and all the bells and whistles set up and was working. That was true (and my doctor had permission to talk to this person about me – heck he can talk to anyone. I don’t have any reservations about releasing medical information. I was in the hospital for IV antibiotics basically and was there for five days. HELLO! The Times is a weekly paper, not bi-weekly, so you do what you have to do. I am a salaried employee, so my hours don’t really matter as long as I get my work done (which doesn’t include a clean desk). I really like the ’dedicated’ employees who think taking a nap or going grocery shopping (or any kind of shopping) while at work (and oftentimes on a company vehicle) is okay and part of the job. I kind of got sidetracked so I’ll get back to the ranch (words from one of the best teachers to come through Jackson County – Holland Braxton).

I am so far from perfect, it’s not even funny but one thing I do and always have done is give 200% to any job I’ve had and believe me, I’ve had a ton of them (part and full time). I promise you there’s a few people in Jackson County that will tell you I am one of the best ironers around and if you doubt it, look at one of my ironed and folded fitted sheets!  The secret is out – iron them and they will fold beautifully!  Now, aren’t you glad you don’t live or work under my roof!  And that’s about it from Prissie this week!