Or...we did our part to stimulate the economy!!
M1 came home so that we could shop for a dress for "the" wedding. We got six! A national retailer near my home was having a 40% off sale--so four Jones NY went in the bag at really good prices! Retro-60's style sheaths--sun dress, and (although it looked absolutely stunning) a sexy hankie skirt dress that will probably be returned. On to the Mall!!! One dress at each "upscale" retailer--but with coupons! My fav will probably be returned---I love the colors. Other, very similar dress with less "cleavage" is, according to M1 "the one".
Then--the IKEA pilgrimage...I bought a cool garden bag for my knitting, as it stands up on it's own, and two of their great $1.50 shopping bags, because they are pretty and I like them. M1 bought stuff for work and home.
Then lunch! M1 wanted Mexican---and they left off the onions on my cheese and onion enchilada--that I had asked for extra onion on----although M1 was slightly annoyed that I complained (I figure that if I do not point out the problem, they cannot fix it!!) I did get an adjustment on my bill. (and out waiter reaped the benefit).
Then to a discount chain to obtain more shirts to be embroidered for the wedding.....long story.
On to Trader Joes, because you just cannot find their good stuff where M1 lives.
Our last stop was at the lingerie store--to get the right foundation garment for "the Dress" M1 found 4! that fit. Every woman's dream come true!! Everyone needs a bra fitter!! It changes your entire outlook on life.
So, I spent about $10 plus lunch. M1 spent about 10X that, and got a "free" lunch. J dog had a good time visiting Mr. Cat (more like tormenting him with his very existence) and got to romp and play with the deer excrement in the back yard.
We are almost ready for the wedding---20 some days and counting!
Random musings of a middle aged knitter.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Let there be light!
Yesterday the tree guys came. We have enoromous 200 year old oak trees on the property that were getting a little "dangerous". Oaks have branches that die--all the time. But when they are huge, it can be a problem. And earlier this winter, the wind took down the victims of the ash borer---so we needed the tree guy.
They cut and trimmed and took away the debris! Now you can see the house even! A walk up the drive seems more "cathederal like"--less likely to get poked with a stick!! And the UPS man will be thrilled that our trees will no longer beat up his truck.
The sun is shining, and more of our yard can see it today--and the Oaks look happier--without the dead wood! Which is I suppose where--getting rid of the dead wood comes from!
They cut and trimmed and took away the debris! Now you can see the house even! A walk up the drive seems more "cathederal like"--less likely to get poked with a stick!! And the UPS man will be thrilled that our trees will no longer beat up his truck.
The sun is shining, and more of our yard can see it today--and the Oaks look happier--without the dead wood! Which is I suppose where--getting rid of the dead wood comes from!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Faith Restored
Every once in awhile your faith in the goodness of mankind is restored.
After the stolen pizza and drive away stolen groceries I was beginning to think that the world was headed in the wrong direction.
Someone at the national retailer where my car pool parks has restored my optimism about the basic good. They found my keys, that had fallen out of my bag as we rushed through the dark to make it to our van pool. They turned them into the lost and found.
I did not know they were gone of course until I returned home from work. Thought perhaps I had left them in my office---fortunately, had a spare key! Looked in the van, and then when I arrived at my office this morning, I was disappointed to see that I had just not carelessly left them in my desk. I asked my car pool buddy to dig through her car later---maybe they fell out there.
Then, in my "retrace your steps" mode, I chanced a call to the retailer--thankful that I had not driven yesterday--but then, if I had, I would have had my keys in my hands and they would not be "lost". I was amazed when the young man on the phone said , yep, they are here!
So--to the person who found my keys in the employee lot on 3/11 thank you for turning them in. I appreciate that I do not have to buy a new key, and rekey all my locks. I am relieved that I do not have to worry that someone had a key to my car. But most of all, I am delighted to know that people are still "nice".
After the stolen pizza and drive away stolen groceries I was beginning to think that the world was headed in the wrong direction.
Someone at the national retailer where my car pool parks has restored my optimism about the basic good. They found my keys, that had fallen out of my bag as we rushed through the dark to make it to our van pool. They turned them into the lost and found.
I did not know they were gone of course until I returned home from work. Thought perhaps I had left them in my office---fortunately, had a spare key! Looked in the van, and then when I arrived at my office this morning, I was disappointed to see that I had just not carelessly left them in my desk. I asked my car pool buddy to dig through her car later---maybe they fell out there.
Then, in my "retrace your steps" mode, I chanced a call to the retailer--thankful that I had not driven yesterday--but then, if I had, I would have had my keys in my hands and they would not be "lost". I was amazed when the young man on the phone said , yep, they are here!
So--to the person who found my keys in the employee lot on 3/11 thank you for turning them in. I appreciate that I do not have to buy a new key, and rekey all my locks. I am relieved that I do not have to worry that someone had a key to my car. But most of all, I am delighted to know that people are still "nice".
Sunday, March 08, 2009
60
On Friday it was 60 degrees! For those in Miami it is winter coat weather. Here it is practically take off your shoes and dance in the street weather---at least this year. There was still snow here and there. But the sun was shining---and everyone came our of their cubicles and stood around basking in the sun.
Coats were strangely absent. Sunglasses appeared again. People walked slowly--face to the sun, enjoying the reprieve from winter. There were groups just standing around talking---where the huge piles of snow had been accumulating all winter. There was a "sidewalk" sale at the Hallmark Store--a hastily conviened table of one of-a-kind and odd items labeled "Stuff for a Buck"---encouraging brisk a business!
But underlying all of this hopefulness is the weigh of economic uncertainty. The Dollar Store boasts a hand lettered sign "Closing Sale--all wall items 25% off". No one was buying anything--even for 75 cents. Diners were once again parked at the wrought iron tables inside the corrals at the eateries--but they were ordering the soup and 1/2 sandwich or salad specials--not the pricer items that used to be everyday fare.
I decided to prolong my interaction with the sun, and walked several blocks to a pizza establishment. Ordered, paid, waited. At one point I thought they called my name, but when I approached the window, the employee looked , and shook his head---I much have hear incorrectly (it was noisy, and crowded with high school kids on a field trip). I returned to my table, and my puzzle......but after a longer time, noticed that those who ordered long after me were picking up their orders. I approach again, and ask about my order---which is clearly in the computer, and no where to be found. After much discussion about this puzzlement, the manager was called, and it was decided that they needed to remake my pizza---that someone else had picked it up! Fortunately, I was not done with the puzzle--and they gave me a "free pizza". (Hastilly cooked, that was about what it was worth).
A sign of the times, I guess. A pizza nabber---walked up and walked off with my order in the chaos of noon at the pizza place. Free lunch!! The second time in a week that I had experienced someone creatively "nabbing" something from a retail establishment. All of the brightness of spring cannot hide the darker side of our current economy. People who used to pay $5.00 for a personal pizza take one instead.
People desparate for groceries "drive away" at the self check lane.....and the merchants, already percariously near loosing their shirts, must pass on the losses to everyone else---who are opting for the less expensive items to make ends meet.
Economics 101 on a sunny day downtown.....optimistic about the weather, pesimistic about the economy!
Coats were strangely absent. Sunglasses appeared again. People walked slowly--face to the sun, enjoying the reprieve from winter. There were groups just standing around talking---where the huge piles of snow had been accumulating all winter. There was a "sidewalk" sale at the Hallmark Store--a hastily conviened table of one of-a-kind and odd items labeled "Stuff for a Buck"---encouraging brisk a business!
But underlying all of this hopefulness is the weigh of economic uncertainty. The Dollar Store boasts a hand lettered sign "Closing Sale--all wall items 25% off". No one was buying anything--even for 75 cents. Diners were once again parked at the wrought iron tables inside the corrals at the eateries--but they were ordering the soup and 1/2 sandwich or salad specials--not the pricer items that used to be everyday fare.
I decided to prolong my interaction with the sun, and walked several blocks to a pizza establishment. Ordered, paid, waited. At one point I thought they called my name, but when I approached the window, the employee looked , and shook his head---I much have hear incorrectly (it was noisy, and crowded with high school kids on a field trip). I returned to my table, and my puzzle......but after a longer time, noticed that those who ordered long after me were picking up their orders. I approach again, and ask about my order---which is clearly in the computer, and no where to be found. After much discussion about this puzzlement, the manager was called, and it was decided that they needed to remake my pizza---that someone else had picked it up! Fortunately, I was not done with the puzzle--and they gave me a "free pizza". (Hastilly cooked, that was about what it was worth).
A sign of the times, I guess. A pizza nabber---walked up and walked off with my order in the chaos of noon at the pizza place. Free lunch!! The second time in a week that I had experienced someone creatively "nabbing" something from a retail establishment. All of the brightness of spring cannot hide the darker side of our current economy. People who used to pay $5.00 for a personal pizza take one instead.
People desparate for groceries "drive away" at the self check lane.....and the merchants, already percariously near loosing their shirts, must pass on the losses to everyone else---who are opting for the less expensive items to make ends meet.
Economics 101 on a sunny day downtown.....optimistic about the weather, pesimistic about the economy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)