What is romantic?

I should have done this before Valentine's Day, but maybe this past month will provide some really juicy answers.

What is romantic?

I fear that I may not be romantic.

Isn't it possible to be romantic at home? Or is it?

If I love gerbera daisies, irises and lilies more than red roses, is there something wrong with that? Lilies are breath-taking and daisies make me happy.

I always feel silly when faced with the expectation of romance. I get that REALLY big question mark bubble over my head.


And all I can think is Yikes, I'm in trouble. It isn't that I don't care or that I don't want to do the work. I am just clueless. I have very simple needs to keep me very happy.

I mean, maybe I am just too easy. I love coffee, books, trees, nature, flowers. So, a pound of coffee from one of my favorite coffee shops, a favorite author, and dinner-out, would be a lovely evening for me.

Boring?

What is most important to me is spending time together. I love having 'face time', catching up, laughing together, eye contact, and an uninterrupted conversation about nothing in particular. I need that time to connect and just be. I don't need to be entertained or impressed; I am impressed by getting a glimpse at the inside of my love, not by things. The important part is the interaction and the time together.

I mean, to me romantic is a quiet dinner, a glass of excellent wine, a walk on the beach (but this is Cleveland and there is none of that this time of year, unless you travel), great music (I would request Lizz Wright, Cassandra Wilson, and Miles Davis to start), and then nothing. Nothing but the two of us and time.

Am I missing the point? What is romantic?

A to Z Me

I grabbed this from Trinity2. Comment if you like. Consider yourself tagged, if you wish.

ACCENT: Mid-western.
BIBLE BOOK THAT I LIKE: Psalms.
CHORE I DON'T CARE FOR: litter box
DOG OR CAT: cat
ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Laptop, mp3 player, satellite radio (all equally important)
FAVORITE COLOGNE: patchouli, Victoria secrets dream angels heavenly
GOLD OR SILVER: Silver
HANDBAG: always!
INSOMNIA: how'd you guess my middle name?
JOB TITLE: Police Dispatcher
KIDS: yup-
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: 3 br, 1.5 ba, Jess, Jada and that darn cat, Hollie
MOST ADMIRABLE TRAIT: honesty
NAUGHTIEST CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR: swearing and fighting my cousin Sandra (defending myself)
OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS: Yes-three of them: 1)a childbirth, 2) a hysterectomy, 3) mysterious, excruciating headache
PHOBIAS: fear of snakes (ophiophobia)
QUOTE: life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. ~Anais Nin
RELIGION: faithful, Christian, open
SIBLINGS: one sister, and a brother i really don't know (both are half sibs)
TIME I WAKE UP: 2 p.m. (I get off work at 6 am)
UNUSUAL TALENT OR SKILL: good question! painting? writing? talking?
VEGETABLE I REFUSE TO EAT: beets and okra
WORST TRAIT: procrastinating, moody
X-RAYS: clear and clean. not one broken bone
YUMMY STUFF I COOK: meatloaf, pecan pie, pumpkin roll, biscuits.
ZOO ANIMAL I LIKE MOST: giraffes

$&*@ WINTER! $&*@ BLIZZARDS!

Well, I had myself psyched to go to Columbus to test, but Mother Nature decides "Hey,Cleveland hasn't had a blizzard since 1993? Where's my head; well they are overdue. "
And here comes the snow!

Columbus is a 2 to 2 1/2 hour ride. I figured I would give myself 3 hours to get there and another 30 minutes to find my way around the maze of one-way streets.

I knew that Cleveland would have snow on my return trip. I checked, on a whim, Columbus' forecast. Well, they have a snowstorm coming up from the south. So, I would drive into their snowstorm and come back all the way with snow.

I debated, but decided not to go. I could just imagine my little car slipping and sliding all the way around Columbus and the entire 130 miles back to Cleveland. No, thanks.

Columbus ended up shutting down their highways at about 1 pm, or so. Just about the time my test was due to end.

I'm a little bummed, but not too much.

I hate winter.

I came out of my house today and there was snow up to my knee. The drifts were up to my hip. We got about 22 to 25 inches of snow. This is inhumane. Right now it's 2 degrees, -19 degrees with the windchill.

$&*@ WINDCHILL!

I want to live somewhere that doesn't concern itself with 'windchill'!

Ugh! And sometimes we even get snow in April.

WOO-HOO

No longer training the All Knowing-Inexperienced- Arrogant- I am ready to work overtime-Trainee!!!!!!!

(I mean really, I only have about 11 years of experience, what could I possibly teach?)

YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WHEW! Won't be doing that again-- until they hire the next one!!!!


I am turning cartwheels.

What a relief.

OK, now to the lesson of it all. I am proud of my field, I enjoy what I do. I started out at a large city department. At first I did not think I would be able to handle it. To do it well you have to kind of be three of four people all at once. You hear horrible things. You have to calm terrified people, over a phone line, so that you can decipher what has happened. You have to know what resources are available and through whom. And, you always have to know where your officers are. It's not just walking and chewing gum.

It is not a matter of being trained for a few days and you're on your own. It's three months of sitting with a trainer. Because no two calls are the same. Knowing how to get to the meat of an issue is a special skill.

Lately, I have been grumbling about my job. I was thinking that I did not want to do it anymore.

But, the truth of the matter is I just don't like my current employer.

Tomorrow morning I am scheduled to test with another agency. I was thinking of not going.
I have reconsidered.

I love what I do. I love knowing that I have helped someone. I need to get back to that.


Peace.