The Redneck Queen's top 10  tips for safe holiday shopping.....(safe meaning that if you follow these tips, the employees of the store may let you live...)

1.  When you decide, while unloading your buggy, that don't want to purchase any of these items, please hand them to the cashier and do not try to stuff them on top of the candy in front of the register like no one is watching.

2.  When a register is opened up and the employee calls out that she will help the next customer in line, please do not come running from the food aisle and jump ahead of people that have been waiting patiently. 

3.  Please do not let your small child open those M&M's and scatter them all over the floor.  Please refrain from stepping on these M&M's after they have been scattered all over the floor. 

4.  Please be aware of your surroundings.  In a store that has gazillions of signs stating that everything in the store is $1, please do not ask how much a particular item is.  Especially do not ask us to scan the item to find out the price.

5. There are times when we must stock the shelves while the store is open for business.  Please do not run over us with your buggy or push us off the ladder.  I am 5'11"- I KNOW you can see me. 

6.  Please do not let your toddler stand up in the buggy behind you while paying for your purchase.  I have watched in horror 3 times just this week as children jumping up and down in the buggy have tipped it over.  One child came within inches of smacking her head on the candy shelf. 

7.  This one is important so pay attention:  Do not, under any circumstances, reach into your bra and withdraw your money.  I am sorry, but your armpits are not something I want to come into contact with.  I have been known to wrap my hand in a plastic bag while handling this sweaty money.  If you cannot put your money in a purse, pocket or wallet, please stay home.

8.  While on the subject of money, please do not throw your money at me.  How would you like for me to throw your change back at you?

9.  We have thousands of boxes in the stockroom.  Yes, there might be some more of 'those' back there, but it would take me all day to find it. 

10.  Be happy.  This is supposed to be a joyous time of year.  Smile. 

This is dedicated to all the folks in retail this time of the year!!!

It's been awhile.  Wonder if anyone remembers me? 

I have been busy enjoying my life.  My stress level has gone way down while my happiness/gratefulness has shot straight up.

I really love it here.  I love the feeling of not being in the middle of the city.  Yet, I am only 10 minutes away from Wal-Mart.  I love making this our home.  I really enjoy being able to spend so much more time with my family than I was able to before the move.  I love driving the back roads to work, especially early in the morning and seeing all sorts of beautiful sights.  Or the way the stars seem so bright in the sky at night.

I am enjoying working 40 hours a week with 2 days off.  The manager of this store does alot of things that are totally against company policy, like taking 4 days off and falsifying her time sheets.  But, I am trying to just do what I can do and let it all go.  It is hard, but I am trying.  The one thing I refuse to do is cover her ass.  She seems to think that since I was a manager I would be very willing to do her job for her.  Uh huh.  Nope. 

Our new dog, Charli, has settled into our family like she has been here her whole life.  She has such a personality.  The longer we have had her, the more it comes out.  She loves to sit in the chair with me and watch 'Animal Cops'.  LOL  She sleeps in the bed, usually right up on the pillow.  She will even cover herself up if she is cold. She sings, too.  Not sure if it is because she likes my singing or if she wants me to hush!  I love her so much.  I am so grateful to my mom for not taking her to the shelter because they would have put her to sleep due to the heart worms.  She goes next week to the vet to make sure those nasty worms are all gone. 

All in all, this was a great move.  My family is happier.  I am happier. 

I would really enjoy David Letterman if that bald guy wasn't on there.  He just annoys me, for some reason.

Life is grand.  This is my first week of working 40 hours and I feel like I am on a semi-vacation!  I was off yesterday and spent the day shopping with my mom.  We had a great time and found some good bargains.  I am now the proud owner of a stuffed witch that will be hanging from our carport next Halloween.  lol

What is the weirdest thing you have ever seen while sitting in traffic/driving?  I saw a man picking his nose today.  He was really digging for gold.  Didn't even have tinted windows.  My husband drives a truck and he has seen all sorts of strange things.  I know, I have seen pictures of some of them.  I bet Heavyhaul can has seen some real doozies!

I am slowly getting my home together.  I still have loads of pictures to hang, but my husband has promised to help me do that this weekend.  His eye is so much better than mine. 

No debi, I haven't disappeared.    I didn't realize how long it had been since I blogged.  I have been working my butt off the past few weeks.  We opened our new store yesterday and I think I might finally have a day off tomorrow.  I hope so, I am tired.  But, we have a good looking store and I really enjoy the hard work that goes into setting one up.  This is the second store I have helped set up and I have learned alot from these experiences.  I do know that this is not something I would want to do full time!

The kids seem to be adjusting well to their new shcool, in spite of the fact that it is in the middle of a cow pasture.  The hubby loves his new job.  He is home often and still making decent money.  The man he works for was so impressed with him that he already got a raise and a brand new truck to drive.  The new dog, Charlie, stayed at the vet for 2 days having a heartworm treatment.  Poor thing....someone dropped her off at my mother's house and my mom adopted her, knowing I would want her as soon as we moved here.  She is a real sweetheart of a dog.  They also groomed her while she was at the vet's and painted her toenails orange so that everyone knows she is a Vols fan, too.  Although after the past few weeks....we won't even go there.  Let's just say I am not used to rooting for a team that is not in the top 10.  Hell, we are not even top 20 now.  Makes me sad.   

Life is still great.  I go in later this afternoon and plan to use this time to clean up and arrange a few things around here.  I am going to go have coffee on my deck now.