My cleaning person fired me.

My cleaning person, who wasn't very good, fired me.  She even made me cry.  I know I'm not completely alone when I share that someone's obvious, unchanging dislike for me, makes my desire for that person to like me, even stronger.  You well-adjusted, secure people probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

I can receive feedback about my personal idiosyncrasies.  I can look in the mirror and say to myself, "Self.  You really need to find balance in that area of your life."  

I'm a little... persnickety.  BUT, I'm kind and diplomatic (usually) and can laugh about my quirks.  Chris will tell you - I've come a long way.

Two weeks ago I told the cleaning person - AGAIN - that I really prefer the same two or three people cleaning our home.  The main cleaning person originally had one other gal that cleaned with her, and the two of them did a great job.  Several months passed and the main cleaning person began bringing two or three extra people each time - and it was rarely the same "crew".  This bothered me.

I politely explained - THREE YEARS AGO - that I wasn't comfortable with strangers in the house, seeing every nook and cranny of our lives.  In my opinion, it's very intimate when someone cleans your home.  I wanted some consistency.  It was also exhausting telling the new people things that I'd already covered multiple times - like...  Please don't use Windex and Pledge on EVERYTHING, or When you bang the vacuum into the baseboards, it leaves black marks - DO YOU SEE ALL OF THOSE BLACK MARKS ON THE BASEBOARDS?  THE BASEBOARDS THAT I JUST PAINTED AGAIN?  (I know, I'm sick.  I need a frickin' life.)

There's usually a language barrier with the rotating "helpers" as well.   So even if I try to politely say, "You really don't need to Windex the walls, but thank you!", I just get head nods and smiles in return.  It's been frustrating.

So two weeks ago, I'd had it.  I stomped around and sighed passive-aggressively while two more strangers Windexed and Pledged every surface in the house, left new, loooong, black marks on the baseboards, and lingered in the office looking at "stuff".

I told the main cleaning person I wanted to talk to her.  I said I was frustrated with the situation.  I asked if there was anyway she could schedule the same couple of people to clean with her, or if she wanted to just clean our home herself, I'd happily co-clean with her.  I said some other things too...

We left it that we'd talk before her next scheduled cleaning day, which is today.

I called her yesterday afternoon.  "Have you put any thought into how you'd like to handle tomorrow?"  

She replied, "It my be too lay to tell you, but I not cleaning for you no more.  Las week, you were un-respectful."

"What?! No. No. No. No. No.  YOU were un-respectful.  And THIS is unprofessional.  I am a nice person.  I have always been generous with you, and communicated kindly, and complimented your work.  My ONLY issue has been the revolving door of people in MY house.  You've assured me repeatedly that you understood and would bring a consistent crew.  But you haven't.  For three years!"

She said, "We hab our own oh-pinion.  Dis conversation is ober."

"What?!  No. No. No. No. No.  I have more to say.  This is important to me.  I was calling YOU to tell YOU that YOU don't need to clean our home.  [Not true - I was hoping she would still come and we could figure out a person or two she could bring on a regular basis.]  Now, part of owning your own business is being able to work through a difficult spot with a client... blah blah blah," I lectured.

"I need to go.  Dis conversation is ober."

"What?!  No. No. No. No. No.  I called you...!"

Click.

I called Chris at work, told him I was having a bad day on top of an already intense, busy couple of weeks.  "No, I'm not PMSing, I don't know what it is.  I think I just don't like people."

Chris said, "I don't like people either...  But I like you."

I heard the smile in his voice.

Thanks.  I like you too.

Just a few more...

I've been tagged by two people for the same meme.  Tristan, who blogs but you can't go to her site because it's not for the puh-blic, tagged me, and so did Mrs. Maxwell.  It's a "7 Random Things" tag so I'll make it short.  I was tagged with a similar meme in August that you can read here if you're interested.

1.  I HATE scary movies.

2.  I've never brined a turkey, but I'm giving it a try this Thanksgiving.

3.  Chris (my husband) and I have the same initials and similar names.  He's Christopher Alan Ross, and I'm Christina Ann Ross.  When we were married and received our first set of checks with our full names on the top, I was concerned people might think I/he/we were a transsexual in the process of gender reassignment surgery.  [Chris was disturbed that I could think of such a thing.]

4.  I carry packets of Taco Bell Mild Sauce in my purse so I can occasionally rip them open with my teeth and swallow a squirt while driving.  I love Taco Bell Mild Sauce.

5.  Mary (our dog) escaped yesterday and was gone for an hour.  When she returned home, I was convinced she'd been violated.  Mother told me it was impossible because Mary's been fixed and unless coyotes held her little arms down, an unwanted dog assault simply could NOT happen.  [This thought disturbs Chris too.]

6.  I like to sneeze and poop.  Not at the same time.

7.  I spend too much time alone.

I promise to not do one of these again for a long time.  TMI and my filters are all distorted.  I apologize.  If you'd like to participate, consider yourself tagged.  Go!

I'm tolerant of everything but an attitude.

Disclaimers and Statement of Position

Green is good.  It's important for all of us to conserve resources and I believe in eating organic foods when possible.  I'm not currently a vegetarian but I've been one in the past.  I love Mother Earth.  I love red wine too.

Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes.  There are petite people and large people.  Some bodies are sinewy, and some are soft and curvier.   A big smile on most body types makes for an attractive person.  Squishy, severely overweight does not qualify as a healthy body.

Some kids and teens might be predisposed to carrying a little more weight.  I understand this.  I really do.  Kids go through growth spurts where their bodies store a few extra pounds while they prepare to grow vertically.  The majority of large children, in my opinion, are NOT predisposed to being overweight.  They're simply consuming too much food and not moving enough. 

Proper hygiene doesn't always mean a good smelling person.  I realize that many people are using natural soaps and shampoos to avoid chemicals.  Clean people may not have a clean smell.  They may have a neutral smell.  They should not however, smell like B.O. and bong water.

Piercings and tattoos are an art, a form of self expression and personal decoration.  If I were younger I would likely have a belly button piercing and a little jewel in my nose.  I think both are adorable.  Ink can be very cool and pretty.  It can be scary too.

Shopping at Whole Foods

This was my last stop on a day of running several errands.  I was tired.  I placed my items on the belt to be scanned.  My organic, power-grains bread, organic tomatoes, napkins make from recycled paper [I buy them because I like the tan, unbleached color to be honest.], soy candles that don't produce carcinogens (at least not that they've discovered YET), and a few conventionally produced items (gasp).

The smug, 17-year old checkout girl shifted her gaze unapologetically, from my purchases to my outfit, to my handbag - clearly forming opinions in her little, organically stoned brain.  Here's where I hope my disclaimers are helpful...

She was smelly, dirty (in a purposeful way), pierced everywhere including those disturbing eyebrow piercings that almost make me faint, tattooed on her throat (maybe she was older than 17), and FAT.  Not a little curvy, or just big-boned, but squishy, eats too much Mac-N-Cheese when she's stoned while sitting around contemplating how effed-up the world is - FAT.  None of this would have bothered me if she didn't have an attitude.

I wanted a bag.  That's all.  I didn't have a canvas bag with me or a bucket or a big enough purse to shove everything in - sue me.  I needed a bag for my stuff.  Maybe even two.

I didn't get two, because the sweet, little gal was intent on cramming everything into ONE bag to make her point.  I wanted to rip her eyebrow rings right out of her fat forehead - or at least give them a solid tug.  [Her forehead really was fat.  I'm not making that up.]

The girl says, "Do you need a bag?"

"That would be helpful today.  Thanks."

She suggested if I was parked close I might be able to stack my things and carry them to the car.

"Nooooo.  A bag would be good."

She sighs AND rolls her eyes, "Paper okay?"

"That's fine...  I'll recycle it y'know?"  [I hate when I justify myself to a smug, urban-granola teenager.  Hate it.]

I got home, unloaded a day's worth of stuff and started making dinner.  The Whole Foods paper bag? This one's going to the landfill.  [Not really, I'd feel too guilty.]