The Adventures of Red Writing Hood

Moving UP!

2007-07-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got promoted. Starting Monday, I will be the new Assistant Manager at my Macy's store. I'll be moving from the home department to the Women's Ready to Wear. I feel pretty good about this move mainly because they created this position for me. Macy's doesnt have Assistant Managers. This position mainly means that I'm to motivate the others and make sure that things goes well. I will mostly be assisting Mindy, the Manager of Women's Ready to Wear.

Soon after that I am going through the ATM program (Associate to Manager). I plan to get through the program before Kenneth and I move back to Oklahoma next February. That way I will have the experience under my belt when I apply at the Macy's in Oklahoma City.

I absolutely hate having to leave the Macy's here, but this city is starting to scare me. I think it's time to head home. My family hasn't seen me in years. Vegas isn't the fun little city that it once was. There is way to much violence here anymore. You can't go a night without some murder or something. It's time to move on, back to the home state.

At any rate...I'm looking forward to being around family again.

Red/Sue

Mrs. Kenneth Furnace

2007-04-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

Well, as of 4:30 today, Saturday April 14th, on our 22nd anniversary together…Ken and I finally tied the knot. It was just him and me at the Little Church of the West. It was a nice ceremony. A bit lonely being that it was just him and me. No friends or family. It was just a simple thing with him, me the pastor and photographer. I had a bit of a time with the pastor. I really had a qualm about him and his God references. I really wanted a non religious one but…it didn’t happen. Oh well, it was more for Ken than it was for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ken, but I could have done without the wedding and just as easily drove through the drive thru to get married. Oh well…I only got a few pictures…it’s a crime how much they wanted for pictures.
Anyway…Susan Styles no longer exists. It’s now Susan Furnace…or rather, on line, its Red Furnace. Funny that huh?
Red/Sue

Marriage

2007-03-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Well, in case you didnt know it. Ken and I have decided to marry after nearly 22 years together. April 14th is the deadline. LOL. We are marrying at the Little Chapel of the West here in Vegas. Ken had always said that when we did get married he wanted it done there...so...there is will be. Its cute little chapel. I dont mind as long as there isnt too much religious interplay. Being wiccan...that could put a damper on it for me. But...I could go through with it if Ken wants it. Sacrifices...LOL

Anyway. I am also registered at Macy's since I work there. But the kicker is...I pretty much have everything I need after 22 years. Plus...I work in the Home Department...so I already have most of whats there. So, I just registered for some gadgets and things plus one or two things larger. Its weird. I really didnt want to do that but my manager, Jeanne, decided that I should. So there you have it.

Anyway...Just thought I'd let it out. For one who said that she woul never get married...the world had just ended. Oh...and Evelyn? I know...I know...I know!!!

Red/Sue

Rave Review

2007-01-13T00:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, for the most part... Most of you here know that I have a passion for reading and you know that when I find a book that sings to me, I pass that info along. Well... Here is my pick for you. I know that I've raved about her before but believe me... She's worth it. The book is entitled: My Nerdy Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson. Without going to deep into it, it's about a woman, a man and the woman's freaky boss. Its hot and spicy and funny all wrapped up in one book. If none of you have read her...Then by all means GET OFF OF YOUR ASSES AND GO GET THEM. Starting with 'Nerd in Paradise'. All of these books of hers are a fun read.

Oh, and Vicki? I have one thing to say to you!

YOU ROCK!

LOL

Blessed be and walk with Grace

Red/Sue

Happy Holidays

2006-12-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

I wish to give out my most deepest and most sincere wishes to all of you out there. I hope that this day gave you all what you wished for all year long. Hopefully...peace WILL come to the war and that the troops will come home to a hero's welcome.

Goddess bless our men and women over there and send them home soon.

Blessed be and have a Happy Yule!

Red

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2006-11-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that every one of you have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Remember to give thanks to those that love you and you are able to show that love. Remember to give thanks to those that are able to receive that love and not tread it under their heels. Remember to give thanks for the ability to love those that cannot return that love…and remember to love all those that we don’t know because someday we may just need that love to pull us through.

Blessed be to every one of you and may your holidays be bright!

Red/Sue

Recipe to try!

2006-09-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

Ever since I stopped doing take out and cooking dinner every night I am always on the hunt for a new recipe. And just the other day I found this one on AllRecipes.com. It’s fantastic. I just made it last night and let me tell you…its GOOOOD. Just one thing, let it cool down before eating. The roof of my mouth is still burning.

It’s a Mexican Lasagna and it’s fantastic. Here is the recipe for you…give it a try, only let it sit after cooking for a few minutes to set. Otherwise it’s a real mess on the plate. LOL.

ENJOY!

Mexican Lasagna

1 pound extra lean ground beef
2 teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
2 ½ cups sour cream
1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 dry lasagna noodles
2 ½ cups salsa
¾ cup chopped green onions
1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain off excess fat. In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef, refried beans, oregano, cumin and garlic powder. Place four of the uncooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking dish. Spread half of the beef mixture over the noodles. Top with 4 more uncooked noodles and the remaining half of the beef mixture. Cover with remaining noodles. Combine the water and the salsa in a medium bowl and pour over all. Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 decrees C) for 1 ½ hours, or until noodles are tender. In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, green onions and olives. Spoon over casserole, and top with shredded cheese. Return to the oven, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Let me know if you like this. I have tons of recipes to share…LOL

Red/Sue

Reading is FUNdamental

2006-08-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all. First of all, who here loves to read? Hands up! *casting a glance around the rooms through the monitor* Ah, I see that there are quite a few of you. Well, good. As you all know, reading is brain food. But, not all reading material is good for the brain. Unfortunately, those are the kind of books I love. LOL. No ‘self help’ books or ‘How to do it’ books for me. I want good, no knowledge learned, books with hopefully a lot of smut. Now don’t shake your heads at me. You know what I’m talking about. I’m sure you agree with me even if you wont speak it aloud. Not that I’m saying that good romances and romantic mysteries are NOT brain food, I mean, they do manage to get you to use your brain while trying to figure out what that (good-looking) mysterious stranger is doing with that gun in his backpack along with the most expensive diamond in the world. And what the (usually equally gorgeous) Fem Fatale is going to do about getting it back. Sigh, such is the world of the literature. Such strife!

LOL…anyway. I have a list of my favorite authors. If you haven’t read any of them I HIGHLY recommend them.

Lori Avacato’s books with her heroine, Pauline Sokol is a Medical fraud investigator who seems to get into a lot of trouble usually caused by the mysterious Jagger.

Stephanie Bond’s books are very sexy and have a lot of humor.

Jill Churchill’s heroine, Jane Jeffry is a mother and an reluctant amateur sleuth to the chagrin of her officer boyfriend Mel Van Dyne. (This author also responds to emails personally).

Janet Evanovich’s heroine is the enjoyable Stephanie Plum whose work as a Bounty Hunter is riveted with mirth and multi exploding cars and one grandmother that is hilarious. Not to mention two hunks vying for her attention.

Monica Ferris’s books center on Betsy Devonshire, the owner of Crewel World, a knitting/crocheting store. She also is a reluctant sleuth that gets caught up in murder mysteries.

Earlene Fowler’s, Benny Harper books are one of my favorites. She is a Cowgirl/Museum Curator who finds trouble her way almost daily. And she has a sexy husband, Gabe Ortiz. Not to mention the police man named Hud that seems to have his eyes on her.

Sue Grafton’s ABC books are a favorite, although they only come out once a year. Kinsey Millhone is a respectable PI but has a heart of gold.

Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Nerd books are hilarious. Her stories centers around one nerd that is usually a hunk in disguise. Check out her books. I promise you will love them. (This author also responds to her emails personally).

Debbie Macomber’s books usually have different characters but some are based on a certain area or family. A fun read as well.

Well there you have it. Now, that’s just a short list of my favorite authors. Now…go feed your brain. I’m sure they are hungry.

Blessed be

Red/Sue

San Francisco

2006-08-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just a few lines to let you all know that I’m still around. Not much to report really. My manager, Jeanne and I went to San Francisco yesterday and had a blast. We went to a cookware MIM seminar for our Macy’s store. She and I both flew in that morning and flew home that evening.

Now, don’t get me wrong, San Francisco seems like a nice place, but…really…it’s very scary. On the shuttle to Union Square the housing appeared awful. They appeared to be simple, yet colorful, boxed apartments that are stacked on top of one another up a hillside. Those of you that may have seen photos of old adobe buildings on a mountainside in Italy know what I mean. The slanting alone would have me throwing conniptions. I was told that most of them are Tenant housing (welfare housing). They simply looked barely livable to me. And a yard? I didn’t see one at all. I wouldn’t want to live there to save my life.

As for Union Square, talk about scary. Macy’s is a nine story building right smack in the center. Our meeting was on the ninth floor. Getting there was one thing, but being there was another. The buildings in downtown San Francisco is kind of cool. There are apartment above the stores and little side doors that let the tenants in. But, you could tell that the apartments aren’t that good. Some looked pretty seedy to me. But some that appeared to be all right from the outside. Of course, what do I know? I didn’t make it inside one. For all I know they could be nice little apartments.

Foot traffic there is large. Everyone moving at a fast pace and seemingly needing to be somewhere very fast. Jeanne and I didn’t stand around to long at any one spot. You never know what’s going on around you. The streets there are just as one would imagine from San Francisco. There were trolleys and busses galore. The streets in some places were incredibly steep. I would be hard press to drive there for any reason.

One thing that was cool. I don’t know if any of you ever watch ‘Project Runway’. but the outfit that one of the designers created for a challenge was featured at the store in one of it’s many windows. It was fun to see it. I do, after all, watch the show and thought it was neat to see them working on an INC design. Personally, I didn’t think this design was the best but…what do I know about high fashion?

One real good thing that came out of the trip. I came home with lots of little goodies. always a plus.

Anywhoo…that’s my news.

Blessed be and chat again soon.

Red/Sue

Diagnosis...Finally!!!

2006-04-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, its official. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have just came back from seeing Dr. Middleton and he gave me the news. It seems that I have the beginning phase of it. The Arthritis isn’t full blown and probably wont be if I take my meds correctly. Dr. Middleton said that at this point I am in pretty good shape. My joints haven’t began to disfigure and with this medication that he is prescribing me they may never deform. Which is good. I don’t look forward to where my fingers protrude in an undignified manner.
The good news is that the pain will go away, but the bad news is that it will take another month or so for the medication to take effect. So, until then…I will still be miserable. Still, I will only have to take the medication once a week. With my aversion to pill popping, I think I can handle that.
Methotrexate is the medicine I will be taking, in a low dose. Higher dosages are used for treating cancer. There is some side effects but tolerable ones. I think I can handle them. I’m just thankful that I have a diagnosis and can now start on the road to recovery without pain. WOO HOO!
Anyhow…that’s my news, rather good or bad. I’m thankful!
Red/Sue

In memory of...

2006-01-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

New years eve I received the news that one of my favorite cousins died while over in Iraq. Joe was only 40 and is believed that he died of a heart attack, although nothing will be known for sure until after his autopsy. He will be having a service either Monday or Tuesday. I am trying hard to be able to get home for it. If I can somehow come up with the money. Have to go through my budget and see.

Those of you that knew Joe, knows that he was a good man and we will miss him greatly. I'm still in shock.

Rest in Peace, Joe.

Sue/Red

Merry Christmas and Happy Yuletides

2005-12-25T14:16:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful one.

Ken and I are doing fine. We’re another day closer to our 21st anniversary. Quite an accomplishment for someone who’s been together all those years without the burden of marriage. But who knows, maybe someday that will be changed. Neither of us are worried about that aspect of our relationship. We’re happy the way things are. Its funny that we have been together almost as long as we have been alive. I mean. I was just turning 22 when I met him and now here I am almost 43 years old. Where have the years flown to?

I got a wonderful little Christmas surprise leaving work last night (insert sarcasm here). I walked to my car to find that someone had ran into her and left a nice foot long dent along the back door on my drivers side. My beautiful purple 2000 Plymouth Breeze. I nearly cried when I saw it.

Merry Christmas to you whoever you are you cowardly prick!

Ahem…sorry about that.

Anyhow, I hope you all have a glorious day and hope that you all got what you wanted and gave all that you did from your hearts.

Merry Christmas!
Happy Holiday!
Happy Yule!
Happy Kwanzaa!
And
Happy Hanukkah!
(trying to be PC here…lol)

I love you all!

Sue/Red

A very surreal experience

2005-12-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I’ve had a very interesting day on Sunday. First of all, I am in the first throws of a full blown cold. I really didn’t want to be at work, but a paycheck is a paycheck so I was there. The day itself was pretty much the same as any other business day before Christmas. Customer wanting this thing or that thing with additional money off for this reason or that reason. I mean, come on…It’s Macy’s, not Macy-Mart. Anyway, it was finally at the end of the day and my co-worker, Atifa, and I just dropped out bag of money into the drop box at the office.

Atifa and I started walking out of the gift wrap office and had just started down the aisle when a man in a black ski mask, with a gun pointed at us, told us to get on the ground. He stated that there was three other men there and to do as he said. At first I thought it was a joke that our security man, Steve, was playing but realized that it wasn’t a joke after all when I realized he held a gun in his hand.

Immediately Atifa and I dropped like a stone but he then demanded that we move back into the gift wrap area. Atifa and I did that pretty quickly. The man then told everyone, there was four of us outside of the counter and one woman inside, to get on the ground, face down. The woman behind the counter, Melissia, was told to get the key and open the safe, unfortunately she didn’t have the key. I could hear him threatening her with the gun to open the safe. It was quite frightening to hear him threaten her.

The guy then asked me if I was a manager and I told him no. He then asked if there was a manager there that would have a key. I told him there was a manager, but I didn’t think she had a key. He wanted to know which one it was, but I told him that I didn’t know, that I was to scared to think clearly. I mean, Michelle was there on the ground with us, but I didn’t want to point her out to be a victim too.

Once the man realized that he couldn’t get at the money since it was a drop box and a time release lock, he told us to stay where we were and that someone was watching us. He left told someone named ‘Steve’ to watch us as he left the office. (Of course, now we know there was no Steve).
A few minutes later he returned and asked me which door was unlocked. I told him that all the doors was locked now. Then he wanted to know how we got out. I then told him that we left through the employee exit on the first floor. He told me to get up off of the floor and show him which I did. I took him down the flight of stairs and nearly flew out of the two doors. I stopped just outside of the door and he flew by me, jumped into his truck and drove off.

Once I felt that he wasn’t returning I ran back into the building and into the security office. The guy who was there just looked at me like…What?

I screamed at him. “Didn’t you see all of that?”

He just gave me a look and I said. “We were just FUCKING ROBBED!” (excuse my language here, but I was a bit upset at being forced to run down a flight of stairs and across the freaking floor)

He looked shocked as hell and said. “Your kidding.”

What a freaking idiot. He was sitting at the blasted monitors for Goddess’s sake and didn’t think anything of a man with a damned black ski mask on?

I gave him such a murderous look and ran back upstairs to where everyone was still lying on the floor. Melissia was very upset where she was lying. I then told them that he was gone and went to call 911. Steve, from security, never came up to talk to us, but the police was quick to get there.

Our store manager, Richard was called in and he showed up not long after the police. I gave statement after statement before we were allowed to leave. It was near Midnight, by the time I got home.

I think the whole thing shocked the sickness germ out of me because I forgot all about being sick. That is until now, as I’m sitting here writing this blasted Blog. A full day after it happened. I guess it took me this long to get it all straighten out in my head.

I really wasn’t scared during it all, because I’ve been through it before when I worked at Sears several years back. Plus the one time where a man literally walked into my apartment demanding money. So I’m an old hat at this.

I just got the impression that he wasn’t going to hurt anyone so I wasn’t all that scared, just more worried about the others. Thankfully, the guy didn’t get anything and left without harming anyone else.

So I guess it ended up a pretty good day, I mean everyone was fine and all. But I swear, it was a very surreal experience.

Red/Sue

New chapter

2005-12-06T15:27:00.000-08:00

In case you are interested. I have a new chapter of my story up.

Hope you like it.

Red/Sue
http://www.adultfanfiction.net/aff/story.php?no=8376
Or
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1455300/1/

A floor unto myself

2005-12-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

Well, today was an interesting day. I had the whoooole day (and floor) all by myself. I swear I don't know what Macy's is thinking of late. I can usually handle the china/crystal area without a problem when I work alone but not the whose freaking floor. Today I was in charge of *taking a deep breath* China, crystal, cookwares, electrics, utensils, luggage, silver, bedding, bathroom linen, the kids department, Macy's woman, sleepwear and oh yes lingerie. The whole of the third floor. I don't know what the scheduling staffer was smoking when he made up the schedule. This close to the holidays and he has only one person working? Glory days, someone get that man/woman a clue.

anyhow, I made it through and my poor feet are killing me. I'm off to bed.

Red/Sue

Mornings should be outlawed!

2005-12-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

Everyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a morning person. Add that to the fact that I abhor exercise and hate traffic. Okay…now put yourself in my place this morning at…oh…say eight of the clock. I was peacefully sleeping dreaming of sugar plums and fairies probably when I was oh so rudely awakened by Kenneth. Okay, granted he was making my breakfast as he always does on the weekend but alas the milk had frozen in the refrigerator and he couldn’t make the gravy without it. Okay…so fine, I could dress and go to the store while he watched over the biscuits in the oven. That wouldn’t have been that bad, the store is just around the corner and I could easily walk there, however…it was ****ing COLD. Nope…I was going to drive.
Bad idea. I should have figured out something was up when the gate to the apartments was locked closed. Once my sleep addled brain comprehended that the locked gate meant that I couldn’t get out, I then realized that there was a gross amount of people running by. Well, thankfully I didn’t immediately think of something like a massive fire or something else just as drastic or dramatic, I was mostly pissed that I couldn’t go and get the milk that way.
Deciding to go out the other way onto the main street of Charleston, I found out that you couldn’t get out that way either. The roads were blocked with those irritating and way to brilliant orange cones. Now I was really getting mad. And those idiots were still running along Torrey Pines. Unfortunately for the car behind me, I had to force her to back up to let me out. I then cursed (quite brilliantly if I do say so myself) and turned to start back to the apartment. I then remembered another entrance that I had almost forgotten was there. I never used it before. Thankfully that drive wasn’t closed off but the traffic was atrocious. By the time I got to another store about five blocks away and back the biscuits were burnt and my temper was flayed.
Come to realize that the 25 mile marathon for AFAN went right by my place.
Sigh, I guess I can get over my bad morning for a good cause. But I still didn’t have to like it. I still say mornings should be outlawed!

Red/Sue

All Hail ME!

2005-12-02T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Well, I decided to start my own little blog after reading a few others. Of course my life isn't as great or interesting to most people, but at least it will keep some people up to date on me and mine.

I've just started some notes on a new story that I had running around loose in my head for a few weeks. Its about how our country would be if we lost the revolutionary war. I think it would be interesting. Ken has some fabulous ideas for it as well. I am also working out my story about Abby and Mojo the Magical bounty hunters. My latest story of 'A Secret worth keeping is nearly ready for an update. Its at my beta readers getting a run through. When I get it back and post it I will let everyone know. *Warning* it IS a Harry Potter Fanfic and has some Adult content. If you don't like Severus Snape...Don't read.

The link to that story is here: http://www.adultfanfiction.net/aff/story.php?no=8376

On a personal note, Ken and I are doing great. Both are healthy, if a tad over sized. My heart condition is improving since my procedure. Last Thanksgiving morning I had a bit of a scare however. It woke me up early in the morning trying to go into the erratic beat, but the procedure didn't allow it to. I think I pissed my heart off.

Well, that's about it today. I'll let you know when I have something else to say.

Much love and Blessed be to you all

Red/Sue