RED RANGER

Today I told my boss at "THE OFFICE" I was quitting. Yes, I gave my notice, and all that stuff!Anyway, he was very cool about it, and wished me well. He realizes the junk I've been enduring here from a certain girl I love to call "QUEEN." Anyway, that is another story for another time......After discussing it he said he would tell everyone. I kept awaiting the big announcement. It never came. hmmmm??
I later discovered he was emailing everyone (all 4 people). My one friend here forwarded the email to me.
Allow me to comment on each persons reaction or lack of one........

BOSS: I spoke with him in private this AM, and he was very cool. He said he hated to see me go, but totally understood.

CHINESE: Off today.

Japanese Girl #1: (my one friend) Talked to me and emailed me all day.........She really is going to miss me. It's great to be loved....................EVEN IF IT IS BY ONE PERSON HA!

Japanese Guy: I really didn't expect too much from him anyway. He normally just walks around and grins...He really doesn't talk much anyway. No big loss. ( an interesting sidenote he comes to work wearing socks and shoes..........middle of the day he takes them off and puts on some slip on sandals....................very strange......)

Japanese Girl #2: (I like to call QUEEN) Nada, zilch, not a peep, people!! She gave me the silent treatment all day, but she's been doing this for a long time. Yes, you got it..."SHE BLINDED ME WITH SILENCE." There has been a lot of drama going on with her lately. The VP from California will be here tomorrow, and I just might have to give him an ear ful l!!! He is aware of the drama that has overtaken our sweet, humble, little office!! He wants to "talk" with everyone. Whatever!

This place is truly one of a kind.........

Posted by TOM at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today I drove down to Macon to take my state exam so I can sell life insurance in Georgia. I PASSED! I was very nervous, but it is all over now. YEAH!!! Now, for the fun part I will be getting to give a notice, very soon, to my job at "THE OFFICE" / Asian version.....

I know you all hate it for me, because I won't be able to write about "fun stuff" from my crazy office........Well, that's the way it goes! This is what I previously meant when I said I have news to share!! I am happy. I thought either a great opportunity in sales with no limits....etc etc....OR I could go and work at the Varsity downtown. I opted for the sales. Though the Varsity has tasty cuisine. Actually, can you call the food from the Varsity cuisine??? Just doesn't sound right, huh??

Anyway, my sister and her family are in town from Kentucky. Tonight, the "extended family" went to BUCKNERS for dinner..........ATE TOO MUCH CHICKEN............I AM SICK. It is actually a great place to eat. I wonder how many Weight Watcher points I used????? This place cooks 4,000 pounds of chicken per week. That is a lot chicken people!!



LATER

Posted by TOM at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today, our Music Minister Rick Stone (or as I call him Rev. Ricky) & 7 others left for Cambodia on mission trip. No short trip! They will not exactly be traveling by planes, trains and automobiles...but planes, planes & planes!!! They will travel Atlanta to Korea (nonstop 14 + hours) change planes and fly to Bangkok, Thailand and then the last flight will have them on their way to Cambodia. I guess I was spoiled all those years flying to Japan. Japan sounds so far away, but I get on a plane in Atlanta and go nonstop... Still long though!!

Michelle and I have decided to pray for them at exactly 11pm each night. This will be 12 noon for them. I told Rick that when you are eating lunch, whatever that may be, just know that we are praying for you. It always seems to be cool that you know that someone is praying for you at that EXACT moment. Way cool! Pray for their safety while traveling.

It is a long trip! I hope none of them get stuck by some loud person on the flights.

Posted by TOM at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thanks for your concern and comments.....I did contact John at the restaurant, and I have voiced my concern a few times. Nothing happens. For starters hiring people that could "converse" in English would be helpful....

An ancient Chinese proverb says, "In one ear and we don't hear........." HA

An ancient redneck proverb says, "We ain't going back..."

Now, to have to find a new Chinese restaurant..............Such hard work.

Posted by TOM at 5:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, I met Michelle for lunch today at the same Chinese restaurant as before. (for those that are new readers read the previous post called "Ain't nothing but a diet coke" ) The one THEY CHARGE 25 cent to change from a TEA to a COKE when ordering the lunch combo????

I thought we would try it again, but drama continues. I will no longer go back there. You ask why?? Let me give you a blow by blow of great dining experience. We walk in, and sit down. She is handing us our menu's when she knocks over the sweet and sour sauce that is on the table. The red, sticky stuff is oozing ALL over the table. This is especially how I like to start a meal. I KNOW it was an accident, but added to the other things??? First time she came around she just took our drink order....not the food. It is lunch time people...we don't have long and Chelle had even less time because she had to go to the printer. We ordered. I asked to have steamed rice instead of fried rice. Even though I like broccoli...I wasn't feeling the broccoli vibe today, and asked for them to leave it out of the stir fry. NO, IT DOES NOT COST 25 cents to do this. They never brought the bowl of crunchy things for us to nibble on.....this made Chelle a sad Chinese camper.
We are doing some serious flagging down of our Chinese peeps while asking about our soup that had not been delivered yet. (It's aldready made people!!!! It's called put some soup in a bowl and sling it on our table!!! Not time consuming) Anyway, soup came to the table, and they had brought the wrong soup to me. They did correct it right away for me.
Our food came, and YES, they had brought me fried rice anyway. Yes, I did have broccoli anyway. I really don't understand the meaning of sister-friend who takes our order. A) she is there B)I give her order C) She brings wrong food...........things that make you go HMMMM?
Michelle was sad, because her Kung Pao Chicken is supposed to be spicy with all the red peppers in the food............ZILCH, NADA, NEGATORY! We are talking MILD and NO PEPPERS people! She was sad. We ate everything as is..........didn't have another 30 minutes for them to cook the food again. :(
Well, our favorite part was sitting down and seeing the NEW ADDITION to the menu. On the front cover it read, "ICED TEA may be substituted for a COKE for an additional 25 cents." This was funny.



ALSO, ancient Chinese proverb says..."never go in Chinese, restaurant kitchen...you will be bery scared of what you see in pot."

Don't be a hater..........be a Lo Mein eater..........

Posted by TOM at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

I bought a new toy today. I am very happy!! I have upgraded from my 1997 Ford Escort /stick shift that had 144,000 miles and NO TAPE NO CD to a 2007 Toyota Camry. It is black, moon roof, 6 CD /disk changer ...

I wasn't going to buy the car just yet...I enjoyed not having a car payment with the Escort, but I had some work that HAD to be done on the escort. The cost was going to be MORE THAN the Escort was worth. That is God's way of telling me to go ahead and buy it, right???? The boys were very happy for me, and said they were happy daddy got a new car. :) They have advised me that we will take daddy's car to church tomorrow....NOT THE VAN.

Well, if anyone is in the market for a TOYOTA....LEGACY TOYOTA near Shannon Mall!! David, an old friend of mine that use to work with me at Delta sold me the car! If you go in there just ask for Mr. Magoo. Don't ask why he's called that...long story....

I am a happy camper.

Michelle's parents kept the boys for us while we bought the toy. While there Michelle's dad taught the meaning of the word "refill." He then asked Parker if he really understood the meaning of the word. Parker replied, "So I can say I love you....then I can say I love you some more" This was very sweet. I think Michelle's dad almost had a tear.

Posted by TOM at 6:17 PM | Permalink | Comments

I kind'a feel guilty of my recent remarks of my co-worker sleeping at work. Allow me to explain. Her father has been sick for a long time, and she is often at the hospital all night! Without sleeping at all during the night she comes straight to work the next morning. HENCE the being sleepy at work. However, it is still fun to take pictures of people sleeping at work and post them, right? Am I that jaded? I really don't think so. I just appreciate fun things. Speaking of fun things my younger son just came to me and told me a joke.

Here it goes...

Parker: Knock Knock
Me: Who's there?
Parker: Aubrey
Me: Aubrey Who?
Parker I love you.

Well, that's my Parker! That's one of those kind of jokes you listen to.... hear the punchline and you are still waiting... for the punchline even though it was already given (you're listening with your head cocked to the side like a dog does when they are listening to strange noises...you know what I am talking about)
Aubrey just walked in, and I asked him to share something for daddy's blog. Why did I do that? Dunno. He said, "I'm happy I like bananas." Well, this is the deal. Aubrey is the one that HATES bananas so I am very confused why he said this.

Speaking of great announcement..........I hopefully will have one soon!!! Stay tuned, and I will keep you posted. I hope to have an announcement very shortly! No, Michelle is not pregnant. No, I am not pregnant.

I often think I would have been a great replacement for ABC Evening News or the CBS Evening News. Why did they have to get Catie Couric or Charlie Gibson? The news now a days is weak. I realize they don't have much to report, but give me a break!!! I am watching some news show the other day, and what do I hear?? "Oprah denies rumors that she and Gayle are gay lovers" What have we come to?? Peter Jennings is rolling in his grave as we speak! You ask, "What else did you see on the news??" Well, let me tell you. I see footage of The President and the Prime Minister from Japan visiting all around Graceland. Now, is this news worthy? Do we really want to hear the Prime Minister (who can not carry a tune) Sing Elvis love songs to The President? I think not. Well, this was a very funny freakshow. You've got secret service running all over the place (as they talk into their little microphone on their wrist) you've got LisaMarie, the EX-WIFE of Michael Jackson (don't get me started on that one) and Prisilla (in all her plastic surgery glory) making small talk with Laura Bush...something is just not right....
But as Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs used to say, "We're in touch.....so you stay in touch"
That was their way of saying, "LATER!"

Posted by TOM at 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

A couple of rednecks are out in the woods hunting when one of them suddenly grabs his chest and falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing; his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cellphone and calls 911. He gasps to the operator, "I think Bubba is dead! What should I do?" The operator, in a calm soothing voice says, "Just take it easy and follow my instructions. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence. Then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line, "Okay, now what?"


WITH THE REDNECK DOGS

Posted by TOM at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today is a national holiday in Japan, and this meant no emails, calls or faxes from Japan.. (remember I am at the Japanese company) This made my day extremely L-O-N-G and boring. We kind' a did nothing!!! Well, at least some of us got "some stuff" done.... Well, I did get to spend 15 minutes trying to teach Yang, the Chinese, how to pronounce million. I wasn't too successful. How hard could it be anyway??? Have you heard their language???
I also posted a "favorite list" today in a post before this so don't overlook that one....Again, today was not very exciting at my office. Miss thang or QUEEN as I like to call her was on vacation. She often is seen wearing very short many skirts to work. I think she never gets the memo that it IS NOT "bring your pole to work day." Bless her heart...................

BELOW ARE SOME CANDID, WEDDING PICTURES... THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE "FORWARD EMAILS" she's a lot of bride for this groom..............

Posted by TOM at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER............OF COURSE # 4 IS #1)

1. Starbucks Coffee - Soy Latte - YUM YUM

2. Nancy Grace / CNN ANCHOR - She's from Macon, GA. How bad can she be? LOVE HER!

3. The Toilet- gotta have one, right? Underrated & sure beats a whole in the ground

4. Michelle and the boys - Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

5. TV Remote - men have an extra chromosome that women don't have...it is the remote chromosome.

6. Cell Phone - I get the love of talking on phones from the Carter side of my family.

7. The Food Network - real men DO cook.

8. Sushi - Yum Yum ! Yes, real sushi DOES NOT have cream cheese in it, please!!

9. Omni Cancun Hotel - been there several time, and I love it! I like to call this my redneck riviera hide-a-way!!

10. Cheese Cake

Posted by TOM at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments

My blog parishioners have spoken....I have acted! As you can see on my site I have changed my picture back to the RED RANGER mask wearing picture. My inner self is saddened that the picture of my "real face" was not accepted and appreciated. However, therapy will hopefully numb the pain I feel. "I'm good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me! Yes, this has been Daily Affirmations with RED RANGER.

I just woke up from a l-o-n-g nap, and it was very nice. My grandmother made me a red velvet cake for my birthday last week. Her red velvet is my favorite!!! Well, I laid down with Parker to get him down for a nap (my excuse to take a nap myself!!!!) I was craving a piece of this red velvet cake, and wanted a piece to eat RIGHT THEN!!! I decided to get some shut eye myself, and would have an appointment with a glass of milk, a plate, a fork & a piece of red velvet cake!!! Back to waking up from my nap......I walked to the kitchen, and went straight to the refrigerator. Michelle was standing in there as I said, " I am SOO craving a piece of that cake!!" She just looked at me with a very weird face. Yes, you got it. She had eaten the last piece. Yes, the last piece of her husbands favorite cake. (made with love by his grandmother) I have to confess that for a second I was filled with unpleasant thoughts and became very VERKLEPMT!!! Yes, like Linda on Coffee Talk I was very emotional and could not find words to express my feelings. I was simply VERKLEMPT!!! TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES......

Here is a picture I had taken of the cake before my lovely wife ATE IT ALL!!!! I still love her. I am just hurt. Today, has been a very hard day for me. First, it was the whole attack regarding my picture in the blog and now the pain from having my birthday cake taken...
Well, I am off to church tonight, and will try to heal. I will survive..... :)

LATER!

Posted by TOM at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

sometimes I hate computers.....................here are some pictures to add to my previous post. I couldn't get them to upload! Enjoy! If you want to go to Stone Mountain sometime...give us a call, and I will make a picnic lunch!!

Posted by TOM at 7:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

I had a great day today! I got to sleep in (8AM-that's late for me) and then we ate "brunch" at Golden Corral at 1130. This is a very strategic time...you get the best of both worlds! (breakfast & the freshly cooked lunch) Anywho we were then off to Stone Mountain for a hot day filled with fun. We bought the 1 year pass in May, and this is the way to go! If we get tired or just want to leave we don't feel like we are wasting our $. We were there today for 4 hours, and that was enough. IT WAS HOT.
I hope you enjoy the pictures from our fun day with "the fam" (great line from "What About Bob") Anyway, I can't wait till we stay out there one night for the Lasershow! It normally starts at 9:30pm, but considering we got our little darlings into bed AND ASLEEP by 8:00pm....Well, I am most proud of this accomplishment today. They were tired campers!! We got home, and ate dinner. Aubrey ate a whole can of spaghetti-O's and Parker ate 4 scrambled eggs. YES, I said 4 people!!! I so hope this isn't a prelude to how they are gonna eat as they get bigger. What joys. GOOD TIMES.
Well, I don't want you to think this post is just about our Stone Mtn day/trip, because I do like to give words of wisdom or "uplifting" thoughts................So, for today I would like to share a great website that will encourage, uplift, edify, humor, show guidance and whatever else......
Please take a look and enjoy this site!! www. shirleyqliquor.com (I have added it to my links)
My old favorite is Ebonic Airways. Turn the audio up and get ready to laugh!! This is just good stuff!
Well, I made a chicken and broccoli casserole (doubled the casserole) for lunch Sunday when we get home from church. It is quite yummy if I say so myself, and the boys eat the GREEN STUFF!! Amazing! The other half is in the freezer, and we will have dinner ready for another day. I am proud of myself...Good boy!
Anyone else into "The Last Comic Standing"???? This is a great show. My favorite comic is Chris Porter. His best line was, "Hi, I am Chris, and I don't have a girlfriend.....WHAT??? WHAT????" I guess you had to see it, but he is great!
LATER

Posted by TOM at 6:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

Let me first start off by saying why is it the little things always get you so torked? Let me explain. Today, I went to a local Chinese restaurant "Empire of China" for lunch. (read it and weep Tracey Kirksey...yum yum) I ordered the lunch special that includes all the normal stuff and comes with a tea. I asked to change the drink to a diet coke. (I know you are thinking diet coke with Chinese food? That is like eating a snickers with a diet coke, right?) Well, I like diet cokes so off me!! Anyway, the server advised me it would be 25 cents to change from tea to a coke. I said fine. Finally, my food came, but they had given me fried rice. I had ordered steamed rice. My egg roll never came, and when I asked them about it they did bring it to me as I was taking my last bite of my lunch. Sometimes you never can win!! I thought for the whole 25 cents I paid the diet coke would have refills abounding... NOT!! I was suck'n ice baby!! Oh yeah, this is the best part!! When ordering the food she told me it would be an additional 25 cents for the drink change, and while eating 2 different people at 2 different times stopped by the table to tell me of the additional 25 cents charge for the upgrade from tea to coke. I guess this is what you call a Chinese Biggie Size?? Well, I go to pay, and the SAME SERVER that took my order had to advise me again about the 25 cents!! I stink'n got it people!! At this point I was willing to give them a whole roll of quarters to shut them up. Well, lunch did taste good, but was very mentally exhausting.

I know I said I worked at the Asian version of the NBC hit show "THE OFFICE." Well, I do!!! I will not go into everything now....because you would be reading all night. However, let me just share a glimpse into the life of my dysfunctional office.
Well, there is a Chinese lady next to me. Due to the nature of our work we have TONS of manila folders on our desks. I often look up and she is staring at me (with her eyes just peeking out over the folders) and she is smiling at me. Very scary. She is sweet, but hard to understand. She does speak English and Japanese (like everyone in the office, but her Japanese is VERY hard to understand...and this is what we speak 99% of the time) She speaks Japanese with a Chinese accent. YES! There IS such a thing. She likes to take 5 minute naps from time to time. I had decided that I will get a picture of without her knowing (or anyone else for that matter) Yes, I know it is sick, but you don't know the stress I've been under at work!! I need something to make me smile.
Well, I got a picture today!! It was like a stake out. It was almost like the photographers from the Enquirer trying to get the first picture of Tom Cruise (HELLO I STAND ON SOFA'S WHEN ON TV) and Kayte Holmes' stupid, Scientology, freak of a baby!! I kind'a felt like a national geographic photographer in Africa trying to get a picture of the most wild and extinct animal during mating season. I was on a mission!! I was very sneaky. I was very proud of my success. I will try next time for a picture with better focus. Please enjoy the "candid" sleeping picture of "Yang, the Chinese" and the one I asked her to let me take.
As a final thought to my weird, work world.....Take a look at the picture taken today at my office of the clocks. WHAT TIME IS IT? Even though they are all different time zones the minutes should all be the same. (only the hours should be different, right??) Not at my office. This kind'a gives you a glimpse into "MY OFFICE" As we say in the south.............."everyone is walking around with one nugget short of a happy meal" (or short one piece of sushi from a Japanese box lunch) OH YEAH, next time I will have to tell you about when I was trying to explain to them, "nugget short a happy meal, elevator doesn't go to the top floor and those type of expressions..." That was a fun day!! Plus Chinese (as I affectionally like to refer to her behind her back) and my boss like to talk about their bathroom habits. IN DETAIL PEOPLE!! (this is NOT normal for Japanese either !)
LATER

Posted by TOM at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

Yes, I AM the RED RANGER......You ask why? Being the father of two boys (almost 4 and 6) we watch a lot of Power Rangers. In case you didn't know the Red Ranger is the "head ranger."
I like to think of myself as the "Ranger in charge" of the Griffin clan. This is a scary thought I know, but nontheless I will go with that and run with it, ok?
I also like the Power Rangers, because this show came from Japan. I was born in Japan, and spent most of my childhood there. I always like watching the show (while making fun of it) and seeing the Japanese signs in the background. When they are transformed and in "the ranger mode" often times they are using scenes from the Japanese Rangers. It is really funny, and it amuses me, but Michelle (my wife of almost 12 years) doesn't seem to think it is really a big deal. Whatever floats your boat I say!! I know you are gonna be a better person for having this information.
Well, I am very excited about my yard. My grass is actually green!!!
My dad lives 5 miles away, and his yard is no where near the green color. He is jealous, I know it!! I called him on the way home today, and he said I've gotta go out and water the grass because it is our day we can water. (you gotta hate water restrictions) Of course I said to him, "Oh that is too bad, because I don't have to water the grass. WE GET RAIN. " My parents hate the whole thing that we keep getting rain, and not a drop at their house. I told them (in the great words of Earl from "My name is Earl") It's Karma! I have been a good boy...I get rain...
They were not amused. I thought it was a great, tasteful joke. (NO, I don't believe in Karma!! so don't even email me about that!!!) Well, I am happy that my yard is starting to look good for once. I just need to cut it tonight. I was hoping the yard fairy would come out of the sky and cut away!! This is not happening. Also, in the picture you see my boys Aubrey (AKA The Blue Ranger) & Parker (AKA The Green Ranger) Michelle, better know as our Pink Ranger, is not present in the picture. I have many things to share with my wonderful BLOG audience so please stay tuned. I really want to share about my office. I work in a Japanese office, and boy do we have issues there!! I would like say we are the NBC / Asian version of "THE OFFICE" - which is MY FAVORITE SHOW !!!! YOU GOTTA WATCH THIS SHOW...........Later People!

Posted by TOM at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments