I can shop daily, if I choose. This is a blessing and a curse; let me explain.
No longer am I rushing into a grocery store to grab a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread to make school lunches. My grocery shopping trips revolve more around food than necessity. The luxury of strolling through the fresh produce isle with a particular recipe in mind is euphoric.
Well it use to be euphoric!
Berries are in season. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are peaking in this early summer heat. The smell of the berries is captivating and immediately draws me to their display. But wait! There stands a woman opening each container of strawberries, pulling out the very ripest and exchanging them for one of her containers, less than perfect berries.
Do people really think that is alright?
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
The new meaning of Hangout.
When I was growing up my friends and I would hangout sometimes. We would go to the beach, a movie or do some other fun thing together. Today I was able to hangout with my grown children and it went something like this.
Thu, 4 PM
Mom is this parsley?
Thu, 4:01 PM
Me
Could be dried parsley where did u get it? No tag?
Thu, 4:03 PM
Jennifer
Jake did it.
How can I tell?
Thu, 4:04 PM
Me
Best way ask Jake. Next taste. Parsley tastes a bit like dried grass. Not a lot of instant flavor. I would say if it has a strong taste it is not parsley
What are u making?
Thu, 4:05 PM
Jennifer
Lasagna
Thu, 4:21
Me
Looks yummy. Why did u put parsley in lasagna?
Thu, 4:23 PM
Jennifer
F...! You're not supposed to?
Thu, 4:25 PM
Me
It won't hurt it but did u use oregano?
Thu, 4:27 PM
Jennifer
No but I used sauce with Italian seasoning
Shit! Jake just got back to me and it was chives
Thu, 4:28 PM
Me
It will be just fine. That is ok, too. Just like dried onions. Actually a little better than parsley at least it will add flavor not just b mellow
Freeze me a piece and I can critique it:-)
My other daughter, Amy found this thought quite amusing and replied.
Thu, 4:31 PM
Amy
Blahaha!
Thu, 4:45 PM
Jennifer
Thu, 4 PM
Mom is this parsley?
Thu, 4:01 PM
Me
Could be dried parsley where did u get it? No tag?
Thu, 4:03 PM
Jennifer
Jake did it.
How can I tell?
Thu, 4:04 PM
Me
Best way ask Jake. Next taste. Parsley tastes a bit like dried grass. Not a lot of instant flavor. I would say if it has a strong taste it is not parsley
What are u making?
Thu, 4:05 PM
Jennifer
Lasagna
Thu, 4:21
Me
Looks yummy. Why did u put parsley in lasagna?
Thu, 4:23 PM
Jennifer
F...! You're not supposed to?
Thu, 4:25 PM
Me
It won't hurt it but did u use oregano?
Thu, 4:27 PM
Jennifer
No but I used sauce with Italian seasoning
Shit! Jake just got back to me and it was chives
Thu, 4:28 PM
Me
It will be just fine. That is ok, too. Just like dried onions. Actually a little better than parsley at least it will add flavor not just b mellow
Freeze me a piece and I can critique it:-)
My other daughter, Amy found this thought quite amusing and replied.
Thu, 4:31 PM
Amy
Blahaha!
Thu, 4:45 PM
Jennifer
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Estate sale drama.
I truly have everything I need to survive, so why am I so obsessed with estate sales? Treasure hunter extraordinaire is my mantra. I am not alone in my quest. Today I stood in line for one and a half hours waiting to enter a stranger's home and sort through their earthly possessions. The line was long, the weather hot and the people unique. The people are the one element of estate sales I find fascinating, and today did not disappoint.
As I approached the end of the line to begin my wait, someone handed me a number on a lined, white, index card. The number was 12. The lady ahead of me turned to inform me there should be a one in front of the twelve. Ok, so I was number 112 waiting to get into the sale. Many of those numbers had already been turned in but the line was very long. People continued to arrive as we inched towards the front door.
The two ladies in front of me, previous strangers, had a lot in common. Each was dealing with Alzheimer's in a parent and Autism in a child. I listened as they shared their stories, gave advice and supported each other's frustrations. Other clusters of treasure hunters exchanged stories about recent finds and the best estate sale companies. Purposely, I remand silent.
The line inched closer to the front door and people were exiting with their finds, giving us a glimpse of the sales character. Normally I go on the last day of a sale because everything is usually 50% off. Today, my previous plans fell through. Having some time to kill, I arrived one hour into the sale. I soon realized I was among the group of die hard bargain hunters, out for blood. With the sun baring down patience grew thin and when a couple arrived with a number that had already been called, it turned ugly. Their numbers were 65 and 66. " There is no way they are going to get in." shared one of the ladies. "Of course not, agreed her new friend. We would all come and get a number and go out for breakfast if that was the case." confirmed the other.
Confident that they would be allowed to enter the couple headed past everyone and put on the required blue shoe covers moving to the front of the line. "What nerve!" loudly yelled one of the ladies. "They are not going to let you in, we have been waiting." loudly confirmed the other. In reply the late arrivals yelled they were told they could leave and come back.
When the door opened the new arrivals flashed their numbers in front of the staff member and requested entrance. He allowed the numbers he had come out to call entrance and told them to wait, closing the door. A few minutes later the door opened again. The young man asked the crowd if it would be alright to let these late arrivals in to the sale. Most of the people up front had no problem but the ladies in front of me had a fit and started yelling that it was not fair! The bold late arrivals, waved their number card and smirked a frown to silence them. They were whisked into the house to livid dismay, and I, and everyone around me, heard the rant.
For obvious reasons, the line moved a little faster now. The ladies turned to me as said, "What do you think?" I replied, "Life is too short for me to worry about someone cutting in line ahead of me!" This temporally shut them up. One women muttering under her breath,"maybe all the stress of dealing with my mom and child has made me less compassionate?" I added, "the company told them they could get back in if they left, blame the company."
In back of me in line was a Hispanic lady with her daughter and mother. Her mother was tired of standing and she told her to go sit on the stair. She whispered to me she hoped the ladies would not get mad. I laughed, it was ridiculous.
Inside, I wandered through the rooms and found this magnetic dart board that my grandchildren will enjoy for a day and it only cost me $4.50. I am sixty and still laughing at myself.
As I approached the end of the line to begin my wait, someone handed me a number on a lined, white, index card. The number was 12. The lady ahead of me turned to inform me there should be a one in front of the twelve. Ok, so I was number 112 waiting to get into the sale. Many of those numbers had already been turned in but the line was very long. People continued to arrive as we inched towards the front door.
The two ladies in front of me, previous strangers, had a lot in common. Each was dealing with Alzheimer's in a parent and Autism in a child. I listened as they shared their stories, gave advice and supported each other's frustrations. Other clusters of treasure hunters exchanged stories about recent finds and the best estate sale companies. Purposely, I remand silent.
The line inched closer to the front door and people were exiting with their finds, giving us a glimpse of the sales character. Normally I go on the last day of a sale because everything is usually 50% off. Today, my previous plans fell through. Having some time to kill, I arrived one hour into the sale. I soon realized I was among the group of die hard bargain hunters, out for blood. With the sun baring down patience grew thin and when a couple arrived with a number that had already been called, it turned ugly. Their numbers were 65 and 66. " There is no way they are going to get in." shared one of the ladies. "Of course not, agreed her new friend. We would all come and get a number and go out for breakfast if that was the case." confirmed the other.
Confident that they would be allowed to enter the couple headed past everyone and put on the required blue shoe covers moving to the front of the line. "What nerve!" loudly yelled one of the ladies. "They are not going to let you in, we have been waiting." loudly confirmed the other. In reply the late arrivals yelled they were told they could leave and come back.
When the door opened the new arrivals flashed their numbers in front of the staff member and requested entrance. He allowed the numbers he had come out to call entrance and told them to wait, closing the door. A few minutes later the door opened again. The young man asked the crowd if it would be alright to let these late arrivals in to the sale. Most of the people up front had no problem but the ladies in front of me had a fit and started yelling that it was not fair! The bold late arrivals, waved their number card and smirked a frown to silence them. They were whisked into the house to livid dismay, and I, and everyone around me, heard the rant.
For obvious reasons, the line moved a little faster now. The ladies turned to me as said, "What do you think?" I replied, "Life is too short for me to worry about someone cutting in line ahead of me!" This temporally shut them up. One women muttering under her breath,"maybe all the stress of dealing with my mom and child has made me less compassionate?" I added, "the company told them they could get back in if they left, blame the company."
In back of me in line was a Hispanic lady with her daughter and mother. Her mother was tired of standing and she told her to go sit on the stair. She whispered to me she hoped the ladies would not get mad. I laughed, it was ridiculous.
Inside, I wandered through the rooms and found this magnetic dart board that my grandchildren will enjoy for a day and it only cost me $4.50. I am sixty and still laughing at myself.Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Volunteering!
Today I volunteered to help fill back to school boxes with supplies for the school year. I was a half hour late due to a prior engagement and they were still setting up when I arrived. Bad sign! A large group of helpers were huddled about and a couple of people were directing the placement of crayons, glue, pencils etc. to be arranged in plastic snap boxes. When all was ready I grabbed two plastic boxes and headed to the end of the assembly line when I heard, "Oh we've got an over achiever here." All eyes turned to me as I shrugged my shoulders and blurted out, "Waitress." Pretty soon everyone at my table was doing two boxes at a time.
Concentrating on getting the job done I did not notice when our table began being labeled the Alpha table. Evidently, we were now in a competition to see who ran out of supplies first. Pizzas arrived and some people stopped to eat but I was not hungry so I stayed with the people who chose to continue working too. This also for some reason brought attention to me. "Let's time her.", someone yelled out and I was clocked at 30sec. to fill two boxes.
All the school boxes were done a half hour ahead of schedule. As I am walking out of the building I am laughing. OK, today I learned I am a fast, Alpha, over achiever, who knew? These people should meet my sister! We'er both sixty and still laughing.
Concentrating on getting the job done I did not notice when our table began being labeled the Alpha table. Evidently, we were now in a competition to see who ran out of supplies first. Pizzas arrived and some people stopped to eat but I was not hungry so I stayed with the people who chose to continue working too. This also for some reason brought attention to me. "Let's time her.", someone yelled out and I was clocked at 30sec. to fill two boxes.
All the school boxes were done a half hour ahead of schedule. As I am walking out of the building I am laughing. OK, today I learned I am a fast, Alpha, over achiever, who knew? These people should meet my sister! We'er both sixty and still laughing.
Friday, June 20, 2014
I cry uncle!
Feeling good about my, somewhat of a, success making it to Mackinac island I decide to push my luck and take the full lake Michigan circle tour. How hard can it be? This time I do not really have any specific destination. But if all goes well I will spend the night in Mazomanie, Wisconsin snuggling with my grandchildren. I'm home!
I cross the Mackinac island bridge one more time and ask the attendant, as I give her another four dollars, which exit leads to Wisconsin. "First right, route 2." she replies. I'm off
and as I follow the lake around it is a beautiful, relaxing drive. I stop from time to time at scenic roadside views. I stop in one of the small Michigan towns and try a Pastie, Michigan can keep those. My GPS is not even turned on and I am relying on my atlas. I arrive in Green Bay, Wisconsin, now what? I find myself on some 35mph frontage road in Sturgeon Bay still following the water and it goes downhill from there. I set my GPS for home. No single. I keep on driving taking any road that says South. It really does not matter which way it turns as long as it still says it is going South, RIGHT? Somehow I am now in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the middle of rush hour traffic on top of a network of bridges that are all under construction. Now I am underneath all the bridges with my GPS screaming recalculating!!!!! Miraculously, I am somehow pulled towards my exit out of the gridlock and am heading in the direction of home and now I'm laughing, laughing, laughing.
I cross the Mackinac island bridge one more time and ask the attendant, as I give her another four dollars, which exit leads to Wisconsin. "First right, route 2." she replies. I'm off
and as I follow the lake around it is a beautiful, relaxing drive. I stop from time to time at scenic roadside views. I stop in one of the small Michigan towns and try a Pastie, Michigan can keep those. My GPS is not even turned on and I am relying on my atlas. I arrive in Green Bay, Wisconsin, now what? I find myself on some 35mph frontage road in Sturgeon Bay still following the water and it goes downhill from there. I set my GPS for home. No single. I keep on driving taking any road that says South. It really does not matter which way it turns as long as it still says it is going South, RIGHT? Somehow I am now in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the middle of rush hour traffic on top of a network of bridges that are all under construction. Now I am underneath all the bridges with my GPS screaming recalculating!!!!! Miraculously, I am somehow pulled towards my exit out of the gridlock and am heading in the direction of home and now I'm laughing, laughing, laughing.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
How can a road going north take a left turn and still be going north? My GPS for some reason can not locate my B@B in Mackinac city so I pay $4.00 to cross the bridge that goes to Mackinac city only to learn my B@B is the first off ramp before the bridge. Another $4.00 to come right back across. The good news is I made the ferry to Mackinac island in plenty of time to see the island and have an excellent day. I chose to take the carriage ride tour, which allowed me to stop at all the neat points of interest. Good choice! I did not realize the island.
was so hilly. There were lots of exhausted people walking their bikes up very steep hills. My only mistake was getting off at the Grand Hotel. The driver said it was just a five minute walk to town. True but the walk was down the steepest hill on the island. Better down then up .I am laughing at myself.
was so hilly. There were lots of exhausted people walking their bikes up very steep hills. My only mistake was getting off at the Grand Hotel. The driver said it was just a five minute walk to town. True but the walk was down the steepest hill on the island. Better down then up .I am laughing at myself.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
I made it
Construction, detours, GPS mal function, turnarounds instead of stop signs, gates at I pass toll stops that can not read your transponder and I still arrived it only took me twelve hours. Definitely laughing at myself!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)