Unscientific Survey

In a suburb, outside Detroit, I had to wait for Mr. Pants to buy his lettuce. It was a large Mega-discount store---groceries, stuff--One stop and you can buy everything--soup, a tent, garden plants, and a shirt! I waited on the side of the garden center, as apparently looking for flowers takes much less time than lettuce shopping.

I started to watch the cars that were pulling in... Chrysler products. Fords. General Motors cars of all kinds......and it became rapidly apparent that anyone who thinks that the Americans who shop at this mega-discount store want small fuel efficient vehicles, have not looked around this parking lot. BIG horn trucks, more- power Vettes, SUV's, JEEPS! I saw three Honda's about one in 10-15 ratio to the American cars--older silver Hondas-- driven by older women. There were large Buick's--mostly Burgundy in color, Chevy's of every description---lots of Ford sedans, SUV's, and those ugly "new" metallic trim clad station wagons.

Now, one could say it is Detroit--home of the big three---but this occurred miles from Detroit. These are "discount" shoppers---sort of everyday Americans. They were shopping, so probably still have jobs. They seem uninterested in little, uninterested in foreign, uninterested in hybrids.....

So, Washington, maybe this is an aberration unique to this area......or you guys in DC do not know any "real" American consumers.......

This could get interesting!

You did not ask what size they were!

It was early, sort of dark, and as usual Mr. Crabby Pants had waited until morning to pack for his trip.....what color are these? Blue or black! Identification occurred. Turned out the color was correct....size however belonged to oldest son--a slight difference.

Next time, look at size and color!! Or remember that you bought your son pants just like yours!!! Can only imagine the "noise" when trying to get dressed in someone elses new pants!

Suspect

Apparently the TSA must inspect suspicious luggage. On a recent trip, I bought two knitting books, was given a candle, and had the usual assortment of cosmetics and Rx. I decided that I did not want to drag the weight around through the airport, so carefully packed the books flat in the center of my suitcase, nestled between the newly purchased blouse and the bag of laundry. Then I added the lint roller, hand cream, candle, curling iron, cosmetics in baggies, and my nightgown. Somehow, this combo triggered the suspicious search. I know, I know. Mr. CP does not check luggage.....

I know that a condition of flying is that if you check luggage it could be searched. I am o.k. with that. But searching is a different thing than "rummaging". Although I cannot imagine digging through other peoples stuff in suitcases, I would have appreciated that the person neatly return things to the suitcase. Apparently the books were the offending items---removed from their protective bags and crunched on the top of my now disorganized "stuff". Maybe they were expecting something more interesting or exotic??? Maybe they thought that I had subversive ingredients? They could have put it back the way it was--not matter how disappointed or disguisted they were.

Really, a lint roller, some knitting books, and a candle are pretty dangerous....but next time, I will leave the candle behind!

Spending Other People's Money

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!

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!

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".

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!

What's in a name?

A Rose by any other.....

But our names are somewhat important, despite Shakespeare's thoughts. We are 3 for 3 on the wedding invites---3 family members, 3 "wrong names".....sigh! And I did send them correctly.

Mispellings are one thing.....Hope Albert has not been married to Shirley!!!!

It will be funny---later!

Disco Christmas Wishes

Happy Holidays!

Almost unstoppable!

Mr. CP declared it so! The day provided 14 inches of snow on which to test the unstoppability. The truck passed the test! He is much more pleased than with the prior vehicle. Score one for Dodge! It is the little things in life!

...and I finally made it to the post office!

Wolle nervana!

Ulm, DE 2008/12/06
It is the Weihnachtsmarkt here in Ulm, but of greater interest to a knitter like me is the price of yarn at the Woole stores. Sock reinforcement yarn- USA $3.50, DE-.5 Euro!!!! Sock yarn: 6 Euros--$12-13 at home for the same stuff. I could live here...decent prices on yarn, good beer, and without study, my terrible, but adequate to engage in commerce, German is serving me well.

You know how we love bargains!!! ...and one of the bargains here is sock yarn! Interestingly though, no size "0" needles--and you would think that here people would need very tightly knit socks--as it is cold, and they spend a lot of time outside (you have to walk everywhere from the parkhaus in the sleet). But I have two more cities to look!!!

Ulm, the first stop on the great sock yarn acquisition mission of 2008!!!

P.S- Nice museum of bread (honest) and the tallest church spire in Europe too!!

Return to normal...

They have all left. Some sooner than others. M1 and J. left this morning. It is quiet--nice. Nothing is moving! Mr. Cat may come out of hiding soon. I must vacuum and put a few things back where they belong.

Always glad to see them come. Equally glad to have my house back after a few days. The deer are probably glad it is quiet too. J. found them quite annoying--he needed them to leave "his" territory!!

Now, On the the laundry, and the next adventures!

Thanksgiving gone to the dogs!

A. and J., grand puppies, with emphasis on "puppy" joined the fray for the big Turkey ingestion! Egged on by Z., we had pandemonium for much of the day, with litter mate like pack wrestling. WWF has nothing on these two! High maintenance, but cute as can be, they stole the show from the turkey--which was luscious, yummy, and worthy of a Rockwell painting (and I don't even like Turkey!)

As for black Friday, there is no interest. We all decided that there was nothing that we needed, wanted, couldn't live without, were willing to fight crowds for, or was such a deal that it could not be resisted. Sorry retailers. Maybe if you did not start your holiday hype in July, we would care more about a "Christmas Holiday Shopping Season". We are doing lots of "home and hand made" gifts anyway. Besides, the Internet is a wonderful place, where you can get almost anything without leaving home!

And there is pecan pie left--:)!

Waiting Rooms

M1 had some surgery yesterday, and I was her "person". They will not let you have surgery without a "person"--hopefully a "responsible" one.

Once we checked in, we were taken upstairs to the surgery waiting room. The purpose of the waiting room was to have a place to wait--and if you are a knitter you already know this--they are a knitters dream come true! Absolutely nothing to do for hours, but sit and wait--allowing you to indulge in guilt-free knitting.

I had my "stuff"--a large bag with several projects from which to choose, and so that I would not be bored. Once they took M1 back to get ready, I added a bag of her "stuff"--which is where I think the responsible part came in. So, I had lots of time to work on my Christmas socks while we waited for them to actually take her to the surgery. Then, I was escorted back to the waiting room, pager in pocket, to wait some more.

The hospital was very efficient about periodic updates (unaware that a knitter was not at all concerned about how long this would take, and would not leave her rows to be a pest to the lady who seemed to be orchestrating the "waiters".) They regularly paged me about where we were in the process. I tired of the socks, pulled out a dish cloth, finished that, and returned to the socks before they summoned me to the recovery room. In the waiting room, (as well as others) I was the "knitting lady". Apparently, not that many people KIP in hospitals, as at times, I even had an audience.

As it turns out, there are not that many people who are good at waiting--or at least did not plan for the waiting. As a whole, they are a restless bunch.

There was cell phone addicted lap top man, dismayed that his mother had scheduled this for a Tuesday (he told several people on the phone that Tuesday was not a good day for him!---never mind that the mother was having the kind of surgery that seemed to required a visit by the priest--who spent more time with her than laptop boy. There was the lady who took off her shoes, curled up in the chair and tried her best to get engaged with the readers digest---but somehow just couldn't resist calling everyone she knew in between articles to help pass the time (because she certainly did not have anything of importance to say).

There were the groups---several. A brother, wife, and daughter for a knee replacement. A lady who was with her dad, but needed to be home by 2 for the cable guy. A bunch (about 6) who seemed to wander in and out, visiting some relative 2 at a time, they whole time chatting about how out of it she was (duh!) and the revenue the post office was trying to generate (?). There was the advanced directive couple, who apparently had enough time in the waiting area to contemplate their own fates, and summoned hospital personnel to help them fill out and get theirs witnessed.

There were the slouchy pants teen and is younger red-haired brother (about 12) who seemed never to have seen a hot water dispenser before, or was conducting some strange type of experiment with hot water and a paper cup out of boredom. Slouchy pants boy was only interested in the cookies--although complained that they did not have any really good ones (Lorna Doones and Cinnamon Grahams) a fact that did not seem to stop him from conspicuous consumption of the "icky" ones.

The waiting room had a coffee station--which was also irresistible to any hospital personnel walking past---so there was s steady stream of badged people dropping in to get a cup of something. I am sure that the in-house consumption far exceeded that consumed by the "waiters".

There were the matching mother and daughter waiting for someone---they spent their time leafing through the magazines.

The theme with all the waiters is that they had nothing to do --except to bother the lady at the desk--about stuff like --is there any news? (duh! You all have pagers too!) or will you keep this bag of stuff while I go to the cafeteria? Or other queries that the lady never seemed to have an answer for.

Since the whole point was to wait for the person having the surgery, I am amazed that these people seemed completely unprepared to wait. No one brought any type of amusement with them. Certainly the teens must have hand-held game things that are portable--or I pods, or (gasp) homework! No one brought a book. Only lap top boy brought work--but he was not so much interested in working as complaining that his mothers scheduling was preventing this---except that if he had stopped complaining about her, he probably could have gotten some work done in between the priests visits. There were the older people--some with adult children, who seemed to need something to pass the time, as it seemed to hang heavy for them. But no one seemed to have planned for the wait!

The winner/loser of the day was waffle man's daughter. She did not have to wait, as because he had taken two bites of waffle, they cancelled his surgery. She was also the loser, as she would have to do this all over again once he was rescheduled---except that next time she will have to hide all the waffles too!!

I don't know how the lady at the desk copes with this everyday---maybe they share some of the drugs from the surgery rooms with her--as she was surprisingly happy!!

Radon no more

Today we "mitigated" our radon. It may not make a difference, but why take a chance.
So now I have less carcinogen in my house, and a flying saucer on the outside!!! Not exactly a home improvement that your friends will be impressed to see, but useful none the less. Ready for resale too!!

A number between 1 and 100...

Number: a concept of quantity.

I have a new number! I have a new decade. My birthday ushers in more of "the best years" of my life. Never mind that each decade has successively been the best. My number now is 60.

I remember my mother at 60. She was "mature". I am also "mature", but not as old as I seem to remember her being at the time. She dyed her hair to hide the gray, to look "younger". I feel no need to. She enjoyed her life, and I plan to continue to. My kids probably think I am "old"--and I don't care! What you see is what you get.

There are many good things about being 60, not the least of which is to enjoy being 60! Many of my ancestors did not have this many years--victims of cancer, infections, violence. My passion for genealogy has intensified of late---I appreciate "history" as I acquire more of my own, and feel the need to document it, sorry that I did not acquire more of "my" history when those ancestors were here to just tell me about it--easier than the quest I now undertake. An yet, there were many many ancestors who lived well into the late 90's and a few to 100 in a time when it was much less likely to do so....so my goal, perhaps will be genetically enhanced!

I have had 60 good years. I plan to have at least 36-40 more. I have much left to do--some things formally on "the list", others yet to be determined. A little over half done, so to speak. Some will be my decisions, within my control. Others I am dependant upon others for---and hope it works out the way I would like!

Z. is currently obsessed with the "50's"--and I think he is secretly excited that he knows an "expert" on the decade of his interest, although he finds the concepts of "before TV", "party lines", and "before there were expressways" are hard to imagine.--I think he thinks the "50's" were a long time ago---to me seems like just yesterday that I practiced "duck and cover" under my desk at Washington Elementary, confident that the piece of 1/2 inch plywood over my head would protect me from the Russian invasion!--just a few years younger than he is now....

One of the very good things about being 60 is that History is not nearly as daunting as it seemed at 16! I now have command of the complexities of history, and the interaction of events--many of which I have witnessed! I know a lot--knowledge acquired formally and informally in contexts over time. I have a confidence that is lacking before 30--not that I wasn't confident at the time---but it is different now--a peaceful confidence, knowing who you are, what is important, and what you want. Knowing that there are natural cycles, knowing that whatever it is, this too will pass, you will get through it, and life will go on to be enjoyed! Knowing what is important, and what is not.

I remember a few birthdays--some memories enhanced by pictures made before color images were possible. My first roller skates--very grown up! Metal, ball bearings, dangerous, with a real skate key to hang around my neck! A ticket to "freedom" of motion!--Age 4 (what were my parents thinking?) Age 16, the drivers license! Confidence on the outside, fear inside!! 21--much ado about nothing, feeling slightly disappointed that on that day, as I was not any more of an "adult" than I had been the day before! 22, experiencing morning sickness for the first time (although I thought it was bad chicken!) Age: 31--3.9 children, station wagon, 4 bedroom colonial in a new subdivision, member of the PTA, my identity firmly centered in being "mom", although I had other slightly impressive credentials that seemed not to matter. 40--asking how I got here so fast? 50-secure in who I was, ready to wear red hats with purple dresses---and now 60. It is a more welcomed number than 30, 40....each decade unique, important, with challenges overcome, endured, or conquered...but not to be redone, as I life is on fast forward. There is no rewind!

I wish I could do a better job of conveying what it means to have lived this life. I watch "the four"--living their lives! I wish they could sort through it, discover what is really important, embrace who they are, be comfortable in their "self", but I know they do not yet have the years. Getting to the things that really matter--which is most likely not what they think these things are. We each have to learn this for ourselves, in our own time, from our own experience. The lucky ones, like me, have no regrets! I hope they don't.

Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things---an interesting concept, but not very useful to the young! So at the magic number of 60--my wisdom and advice is to "live"--not as in "live it up", "live in the moment", "live on the edge". I mean "live"--enjoy each moment, experience, opportunity, relationship. Accomplish the really important things--and don't let day-to-day living get in the way of creating a life! A life that you love, with people you love. Have no regrets.

"Live long and prosper"--I plan to continue to!

Checkin E-Bay for an Ark!!

Is is raining..and raining, raining, raining, raining. I don't remember ever getting this much rain in such a short time. We needed some rain--but not all at once. And the hurricane effect isn't even here yet!! And tornadoes---who gets tornados in September? At least the lake levels will go up!!

Sale!

Apparently today is the day that major home improvement retailers decide that summer is over, and it is time for the American public to stock up on firewood and space heaters. Because they need floor space for those, the summer stuff "must go". Today I made a killing on throw pillows for my porch (water and mold resistant!), a thermometer (now 79 cents!), another squirrel for my almost cute rodent collection (97 cents) and an outrageous resin rooster for my garden--significantly marked down (I can see why) to about what it was worth in the first place!

Delighted as I am with my purchases, it is a little sad that on a sunny 93 degree day in August, all the major national retailer can think of is snow shovels and stacks of ice melter. I still want to enjoy summer--and then fall! I don't want to think about ceramic space heaters, ice scrapers for my car, or a snowblower!!! Maybe this is why they are not selling stuff. They are out of season with what people want!!

Of course, in January, when you need a snowblower, they will be sold out, and filling the place with patio furniture that you would have to wear a parka to use!!!
I think I may be on to something here.....anyone want to pay me to be a consultant to major retailers????????

Signs of things to come...

It was downright cold today--60's and damp. Quite a shocking change from the 80's and 90's of recent weeks. Had to go get some socks! It is darker in the mornings, dark sooner at night, and air is a little "nippy" for August.

We seem to be on our way to the next season....so much for global warming!!