Rubi's Gems

Gosh, what an exciting birthday I had Monday!  So much happened that I didn’t have time to post until today!! It was my 51st – my mystery birthday (Just like area 51, get it)?!

The day got off to a great start when Maddie (that’s my daughter!) called me to sing “Happy Birthday!” She called pretty early and woke me up, but it was better than any darn ol’ alarm clock!

When Buddy (that’s my dog!!) heard me laughing and talking on the phone, he jumped up on the bed and gave me loads of doggy kisses!  He got so excited that he forgot his manners, but my rag rug goes right into the wash, so no problems! Granny really made things to last!

When I got to work, I was sort of disappointed that no one remembered it was my birthday. Beryl (that’s my boss!) was very nice when I talked to her about it, though. For lunch, there was a nice cake in the break room that said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!” I had two pieces. I know it’s bad of me, but it was chocolate and it was SO GOOD!!!! It even had little icing roses on it!

I saw the sweetest sign the other day in a Hallmark store: “Practice Randome Acts of Kindness.” That hit a real cord with me. Sometimes I feel like an ordinary person like myself doesn’t have much chance to make a real difference in the world, but then I realized I can brighten up my own tiny corner of it.

So here are some of the things I did:

I watered the plants in the apartment courtyard. The ones in the rocks looked really dry, so I gave them a good drenching.

I let Hank, the odd-job man down the block, earn some money by mowing the verge even though it didn’t really need it.

I was at a tollbooth and had an extra dime, so I gave it to the toll-taker to help pay for the person’s toll behind me.

I feel so good!  I think everyone shold do this. It’s good for other people, and good for yourself, too!

The other day’s little adventure with my underpants just keeps on keeping on. I went to Wallmart this afternoon to get some new ones. Gosh, there’s just so much great stuff to choose from there – I swear I got dizzy trying to choose from between all the styles and sizes. I coulnd’t remember what size I wore, so it was a good thing I brought the old ones along with me.

When I took them out of my purse to check the label, a woman next to me got really interested. She said, “Honey, I don’t know who you’re dating, but please tell me he has a brother!”

Gosh, I’m so excited about having my own on-line journal! I think it’s always so interesting to learn about other people and they’re exotic lives – and to think that now people can learn all about me! I don’t mean to say I’m exotic or anything like that. I’m just a simple gal. I get up, go to work, come home, walk Buddy (that’s my dog!!!), make dinner. You know, the usual.

This morning wasn’t quite the usual, though, it was pretty funny. I was getting dressed for work when I realized that I didn’t have any clean underwear (I hadn’t been to the laudromat for awhile in the rush of getting Maddie (that’s my daughter!!!) ready to leave for college). I rinsed out a pair when I realized I didn’t have anyway to dry them. Well, I’m gosh-darned if I’m going to go commando (as Maddie says) to work, so I realized I had to think of something.

Then I thought of the oven. So I turned it on, and put my scanties in, and went to put on my makeup while they dried. I’d just finished one eye when what do you suppose happened?  There was this funny smell. I looked at Buddy (his digestion isn’t the best, hint hint hint), but he just looked back at me.

Well, you can just guess what happened. The elastic had melted right to the rack! And the back was scorched!  And I was going to be late! But they were dry, so I went ahead and wore them.

You know, I think life’s a little bit like that. We all try to do our best in the world and put up a good front, but sometimes, underneath it all, you just gotta wear scorched underwear.