Not this white stuff again!

I seriously think that is what my cat was thinking to himself this morning.
Yep, we got an additional 8 to 10 inches overnight and into the early morning, and by the time I got up around 7:30(both school and work either cancelled or delayed for everyone in the house because of it), the snow had stopped, but...

...this(above) is what awaited me outside.

Some heavy shovelling(unfortunately for my back, the snow was the wet kind) to make a path for the cat and dog so they can, er...do their morning "business" somewhere outdoors, without falling through the snow over their heads.

As soon as I get up, and even before I start the coffee, my dog and cat are right at the back door every morning, eager to get out and take care of their business, so I knew I had to take care of the snow situation for them first thing today. I wouldn't let either of them out until I made some sort of path for them in the snow. Without any fortifying breakfast yet in my belly, I was pretty wimpy out there and only got as far as a path cleared off the back deck, down the steps and then a small distance in two directions in the yard,

and I was done for the time being. I also knew the pets were dying to get out.

As soon as I got back in(after having taken a few photos), I let the critters out.

Pete the cat's response was dismayed surprise which quickly turned to feline crankiness.

He didn't even make it half way across the deck before turning around with this annoyed look on his face, and wanted right back in. I think he was really ticked off with the cold, white stuff. He got up on the couch to look out the front window right after being let in, his tail twitching. Which in cat-language means--"look out--I'm irritated".

Now, the dog's response to the discovery of yet another snowy morning was typical dog-behavior in comparison to the pissed off cat attitude. She went dashing out, then came to a tentative halt at the end of the deck right before the stairs and looked back at me with a look in her eyes that practically said, "Do I HAVE to go out in this..again?"

I told her, "Yes, Jewel, get down those stairs and go potty",

and she being a good little canine, sucked it up and complied with my order. She bravely trotted down the short path and then, as she always does, got off the path and into the deep snow, squatted down, sinking her butt into the cold stuff and made a little yellow spot. Then she came running right back to the door, all happy back inside --everything forgotten and cheerfully ready with a wagging tail(and cold wet butt and underside) for her breakfast.

Every morning--its the same old bowl of kibble and every morning, she is happy to eat it, as if it were the choicest cut of steak. Even if she has to go out in rain or snow, she is the same happy dog once again, back in and ready for her morning meal.

My breakfast this morning?

Two chocolate chip cookies and a cup of coffee.

I was at first ticked off and started to feel ornery with the world like my cat when I saw that the coffee canister was empty(I had forgotten to buy more at the store yesterday)!! And, then, I remembered that we had a bag of Dunkin Donuts Vanilla coffee in the freezer. It was a gift from one of John's students before Christmas, and we both don't like flavored coffee much, so it was stored in the freezer as a "back up plan" coffee. For days like this.

And, you know...even a flavored coffee is better than no coffee at all. And, combined with chocolate chip cookies(I had a mad craving for them and made a batch last night--something about a snowstorm always brings out the cooking and baking in me), it actually tasted just fine.

Later in the morning, Mr. F took it upon his brawny self to do most of the rest of the digging out(for well over an hour). The plows had created great walls of thick snow which had to be dealt with before any other shovelling of paths and driveways could be done. Somewhere, in the heap of snow above, is our mailbox.

And, just for the record, I did eventually eat something a little more healthy--some plain yogurt and chopped apples stirred in.

The sound of autumn

It is yet another perfect September day,

daytime temp no higher than 70*F,

sunny,

blue skies with not a cloud in evidence,

a cool breeze rippling the leaves(that are still hanging on)on the trees,

the roads empty of the summertime hordes,

wearing my fuzzy slippers and inspired to make lentil soup,

.....and yet there is one thing I just do not like about fall(besides having to see those enormous Halloween blow-up lawn decorations):

Its the sound of.....those damned leaf blowers going!

I'll hear them every day now, I am sure, for a few more months.

Talk about noise pollution!

More Things....

..I just don't "get". (I started this topic with a blog entry back in 2009... here)

The other day, I had to wait at the dentist's while Rachel had a cavity filled. It never seemed to be this way before, but the waiting room had a dismal selection of magazines to look through--or else it was because it was so crowded with other patients filling most of the waiting room and they had already grabbed the better mags(National Geographic, Real Simple, People).

Wired, Wine Spectator, AARP(with Valerie Bertinelli on the cover? Isn't she like..MY age?),Guideposts, Boys Life(I didn't even know that was still published! Do boys still read this?), some sport fishing mags...nothing looked worth reading. So, I ended up grabbing an "Entertainment Weekly"-People magazine's less entertaining knock-off. There were pages and pages devoted to the newest "Sex And The City" movie. Pages! Now, I never even saw a single episode of SITC when it was on television. But, I knew it was a hit and knew about the two movies. But, I don't get why it is such a phenomena.

Because nothing held my interest, and I ended up waiting longer than I thought I would have to(why do I never remember to throw a book I want to read in my bag for those times when I am stuck waiting somewhere?)I started being distracted by the television up on the wall. They had the Food Network turned on.
There's another thing I don't get--maybe simply because I don't usually watch cooking shows. I guess I cannot wrap my head around the idea that there are cooking shows after cooking shows on all day and all night! I ended up being annoyed by the two female "cooks" I ended up watching while I waited. They were just too damned perky and fast moving in their brightly decorated GIANT kitchens. Give me Julia Child's show any day--which is being re-broadcast on Saturday afternoons on the original station out of Boston (R and I were into watching those old "French Chef" episodes in the winter and early spring. So..I guess I actually *might* like one cooking show at least). Or give me a cookbook to peruse(I like to read cookbooks).


Okay...now I get the feeling someone is going to dislike me after I write this, but I have to say it...
I never got the Diana(as in Princess of Wales)love. What was the fascination? I'll admit I was shocked as anyone on the day I found out she had been killed in that Paris car crash(I can remember that sunny weekend morning when I went out to get the newspaper from our front yard and being flabbergasted by what I was reading on the front page). But all through the 80's, I could not relate to all the press devoted to this "fashion rebel"(rebel?? In those awful hats and suits?) and the entire Royal Family drama. I was reminded of the Princess Di fascination because of a story on the Yahoo home page about one of her "racy"(the press used this word) dresses being up for sale recently.

I don't get: Texting. Texting while driving. Texting while standing in line at the post office. Talking loudly(about some one's drinking problem even) on the cell phone in public places. Talking on a cell phone while walking alongside a friend. Cell phone glued to ears when walking a dog through the neighborhood. Cell phone conversations that can't end even while purchasing something in a store--just hand the money to the person behind the counter without any actual interaction with that person(yes, this has happened to me).

I don't get why people have to be constantly communicating. Can't they ever be alone with their thoughts? Don't they see how rude this attachment to their cell phone has made them?

A few weekends ago, my daughter said she was woken up early in the morning by some woman out in the street walking by, talking loudly -obviously having a conversation on her cell phone.

Maybe I am beginning to sound too old and cranky and out of touch?

I never text.

I use my cell phone maybe four times a month.

I like walking my dog, my thoughts connected to what my dog is doing and also observing the environment around me as I walk.

I never think to take my cell phone with me.

One last thing, that I just do not get!

I don't understand how certain people(thankfully, just a few customers of ours at the frame place) can be so lazy and/or thinking it is beneath them somehow to do it themselves,

to come in and choose a tabletop frame --the kind you can buy in any store, from Macy's to Wal-Mart--leave their 4" x 6" photos with us, and instead of buying the frame and taking it home and inserting the photo into it there themselves..they expect someone who works at the shop to open the back and put it in for them. And...expect not to have to pay to have that done when they come back for it the next day, either! Who do these people think they are? Royalty with staff ? I'll bet even Princess Diana put her own royal photos into the frames themselves.

And, yes, we are a custom framing shop--where we build frames and cut mats for art and larger photos(or create collage-type mats for multiple smaller photos)--but it drives me nuts when

people(who seem entirely capable and intelligent ) do this. Plus, we are so busy with time-consuming custom jobs, it really bugs that I have to take time out to slip photos into easily opened table-top easel-backed frames that I would think most people could just do themselves.

*And, for the record, that day at the dentist's, I ended up also leafing through the A.A.R.P. magazine(lifestyle magazine for the American retired person, which I would love to be but cannot see that happening anytime soon), and finding it interesting reading. Really!

**Also..for the record, I can understand that someone could easily say that they don't "get" how people can spend their spare time writing a blog and communicating oftentimes with people who they have never met face-to-face. :-) Well, to each her own, right? (but at least my blogging doesn't wake someone up early on a Saturday morning)

Today is brought to you...

...by the letter G.

Grouchy

Grumbly

Grumpy

***

The coffee mug appears half empty(and the coffee lukewarm).

I'll be back on a better day.

**

"My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can."

~Cary Grant

Blah

This has been pretty much our weather forecast(below, and from today's Yahoo/Weather Channel site) for the last four weeks, and here we go again! Another week of gloom. It doesn't even feel or look like summer here. It feels like we have entered some alternate universe , where every morning starts off grey and gloomy and pretty much stays that way.
Yesterday was a shocker, though. It began and stayed mostly dry and sunny and pleasant--like a normal June day. Of course, this would have to be the one Saturday I worked. I got home then, after 5:00(it was busy at the shop, so at least it went by fast and I didn't even have a chance to look out the window and feel bad by seeing the sunshine), sat outside in the late afternoon sun with a glass of iced tea, and then about 20 minutes later, a cold fog rolled in and it was like that for the rest of the day. And here it is, my one weekend day off, and whaddaya know? It is completely cloudy yet again. So DEpressing.

Detailed Local Forecast:

Today: Cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight: Cloudy with a few showers. Low near 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow: A few showers early, followed by isolated thunderstorms later in the day. High 74F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow night: A few clouds from time to time. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.

Wednesday: Scattered thunderstorms possible. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 60s.

Thursday: Scattered thunderstorms possible. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the low 60s.

The thing that makes this worse is that ever since we got this new computer(don't know if I blogged about this much, but our old home PC died last weekend, and J promptly went and found one super cheap-used-on Craig's List the next day), I can't set the weather on my Yahoo homepage to my own location.

Instead it insists on mocking me by always showing me the always bright and sunny weather news from Sunnyvale, California(Yahoo's headquarters?), and I haven't been able to change it to my town as a default location for some odd reason.

We have plans for a little drive up to Trader Joe's in the afternoon, at least. We need to restock our fridge and cabinets, and at least food shopping there is fun and little different.

Waiting...

...waiting for the sun to shine.

That is Jewel waiting (with Super Grover, my driving guardian and protector) in a parking lot yesterday while R was in Staples getting some supplies for a school project.

Yesterday was basically me driving R around and watching her shop. She had gift cards to spend from her birthday and is still out from school because of the Swine Flu scare (we still don't know if a student actually had it, and assume classes will be back in session tomorrow). There wasn't much else to do on a rainy day, anyway.

I usually try to refrain from complaining about the weather.

But.... this grey funk, with cold temps, and off and on rain showers (and occasional torrential downpours like during my drive on the highway yesterday when I could barely see anything before me and some idiot drivers didn't even have their lights on!) that began last Friday and is now expected to remain until through the weekend is getting me down, and I want to complain, dammit!

So, I am feeling a little ornery. And sunshine-deprived.

If you want to read/see something a little more beautiful and cheery, go check out my friend Rosemary's blog entry for today and meet someone who seems to like

this sort of wet weather.

Don't Stand So Close To Me

Being an American, when in a public place, I like to have and am used to my allotted “personal space”.

That 8 inches or so radius of space between me and another stranger. When you are in line, you expect to not have someone breathing down your neck and heaven forbid—never actually bumping into you and touching you!

I just had an afternoon where I had two encounters where my personal space was “violated”.

Not the worst thing in the world—just two events that happened in the space of an hour or so at two different places that made me wonder what was going on. ?????

First off, I was in line at a store (Job Lot, Erin!)

—where I went in for one thing and came out with ten, because that is the Job Lot way,

and was finishing paying and then gathering up my purchases into my bag, when I had a feeling of being almost pushed along and out of there by the next person behind me—a man I saw out of the corner of my eye, standing now very close to me.

Even, though, like I said, I had just finished up and was still not done and not quite ready to go. (he was already inching up right beside me before I had even gotten the total from the clerk, now that I think of it)
Even the clerk had to tell him to “wait” (he had already swiped his debit card in the machine and apparently she wasn’t ready for that). And there I was still gathering up my things and not even ready myself. Right, this man was so annoying standing so close and in such a stupid hurry.

Then, as I was putting my key into the ignition once I was out of there and in the parking lot, I noticed that same man jumping (hurriedly) into a car parked right alongside the entrance. Obviously, whatever rush he was in and so badly needed at Job Lot meant that parking in a normal parking spot was not for him. He was off and out of the lot before me, even.

What was the rush? Well, he was one of those rushed and therefore rude people.

I was still a little ticked off by his inching his way into my “space” and rushing me along. The noive of him!

After Job Lot, I had one more errand—needed to get some things at the market near our house— some cheese at the deli counter in particular.

I went to the back of the store first and waited in front of the deli counter. They weren’t too busy, with one other person already standing there and being waited on. I was next, once that man was done getting his order. As I am standing there, I notice out of the corner of my eye, a woman—short whitish curly hair, a little older than me—come along and stand right near me. And I mean NEAR me—as in almost shoulder to shoulder-- she was so close.

Did I mention there wasn’t a huge rush of people there? And plenty of room? At first I thought she was about to tell me something or that she was getting a closer look at something in the case and then would move away after a bit. But, er, nooo..she stayed right there.

A little disconcerting, to say the least.

But, again, not the worst thing in the world—she seemed a nice person and didn’t smell or anything. But, still—strange that she had no concept of “personal space” and was so close to me. Even the woman behind the case was confused when it came time for my-um, “our” turn. She asked if we were “together”!! I said, “no, I’m next" and moved apart more than slightly to reclaim my “space” and get my cheese and get out of there.

Maybe it’s my perfume?

Half and Half Day

Today started out as a sparkly day, and my mood was good. I had a little extra time before work to stop at the seawall to take these photos...and video(the beach, complete with a couple of surfers--blink, and you'll miss them!). My first attempt at saving a video and trying to put it up here--inspired by Protege who often has a nice, slice of life video on her blog. You might want to consider turning the sound down, though, since all you can hear is the wind in my camera's tiny microphone, and not the surf...unfortunately.
Maybe next time, I'll try to get a close-up of the osprey in the nest I pass every day.

Then...I had to deal with people.
Ever have one of those days where you just wish the rest of the human race would disappear for an hour or so? I had one of those days, but couldn't run away and be a hermit since I was at work and had to wear my "May I help you?" hat and and deal with customer after customer who would come in with cracked,falling apart frames--some made out of that cheap resin plastic (Walmart frames, I call 'em) and acting all indignant when told we couldn't(wouldn't) repair them for them. No sorry, but we are are a custom frame shop, after all. We make frames. It is a business and that is how we make our money. We'll help you design an amazing framed picture for your home. We'll take apart a moldy picture you already have in a frame and try to clean it up, maybe with a new mat and acid free materials and try to restore the art.
But, we don't use super glue and rubber bands and fiddle around fixing what is already broke.

Now, I understand wanting to try to fix something, to save money and be ecologically sound-- trying to reuse something. But, I can't understand why these people(and it is at least a few every week--I get all super cranky about this reoccurring problem on a day like today when it is nearly everyone who came in here) don't do this stuff at home themselves.

I really wish today were Friday.

No Zeppola(or Tilbrook) For You!

I'm cursed, cursed I tell you!

So, I couldn't get even one Shamrock Shake for my kid on St. Pat's Day. I'm over it.

But.....today I pick R up after her brutal 2 hour try-out for track and field(or "Camp Torture" as she called it as she collapsed onto the car seat) and tell her we'll stop off at the fruit market(which happens to have a small, but excellent bakery) that is near our house so I can get her a St. Joseph's Day zeppola.

I run in(had to get some crusty bread for supper, too, and their Italian loaf is superb)and go directly to the back where the bakery is. I can see three large zeppole (only 3?? )on a tray. There is an older lady, wearing a pair of glasses with a chain, standing in front of me. She asks how much the zeppole are and then tells the worker to box up all...three!! Nooooo...!

Calm down, I say to myself. There might be more in the back.

But, nope, there aren't. Came out of there with only the bread and some pears.

Geez, I just can't get a break here this week with the speciality holiday foods, now can I?

Granted, it is partly my fault. I should have known to go earlier and not wait until the afternoon. Only, there was no way for me to get out of the shop today since I was alone most of the time and by the time I got out, I wanted to get home to let the dog out.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Also, I'm feeling old and tied to a routine today. I opened the paper this morning and saw this photo of Glenn Tilbrook(looking incredibly adorable) and then read that he is appearing with his other band(besides Squeeze), The Fluffers at The Narrows. Tonight.

If I had only known ahead of time, made plans and it were ideally on a weekend and perhaps a little closer(it's over the state line and sadly, I have become one of those Rho Dylinders who dreads driving any distance to do anything), J and I might have gone.

And I just haven't yet gotten to the point where I feel comfortable having R alone in the house late at night.

Instead, I'll make a spaghetti supper with fresh bread with NO pastry for dessert, but will dig out some old Squeeze Cd's tonight.

.

I must not think bad thoughts

Today's been interesting....

As I drove in to work today, "Ring Of Fire" by Social Distortion blasting, I noticed a lone Canada goose off by the side of the road. I don't know that I have ever seen one not at least with a partner(or usually in a flock...or is it a "gaggle"?). This goose seemed confused, looking left and right. So strange that I am remembering that singular goose still, later in the afternoon.

As I turned the corner by the small pond(where there is always a pair of swans), I spied a red wing black bird swaying on a branch at the very top of a tree. This is the second time I have noticed a redwing in the last week or so-- a reassuring sign of spring.

It also occurred to me, that I haven't seen that grey El Camino around town or by the beach(I wrote about it here)for a while now. I feel a little bad about me disparaging it and actually would prefer to seeing it around again. Hope nothing too bad happened to the driver.

Co-worker, G, was almost scarily overly pleasant today--almost manic and talking non-stop. He does drink a huge amount of Starbucks coffee, but usually he isn't quite so perky. Is it bad to be suspicious of that? I should be glad the work day went smoothly and everyone in a good mood. It was at least a good atmosphere to be in after I got the call from my doctor that they want me to go back for a second mammogram. I know I should not panic about it...yet. Likely, it's nothing serious. I just keep thinking about it though, even though I know I should just try to push it out of my mind. Totally did not expect that phone call.

Yesterday, I tried for the second year in a row, to get my daughter a Shamrock Shake.
Last year, when I went to McDonald's on March 17th, the girl behind the counter didn't even know what I was talking about when I asked if they had any, since it was St. Patrick's Day.
Then, yesterday, since this somewhat sickly sweet and minty drink was on my mind all day(pure nostalgia, I guess), I decided to go to Mickey D's with R after I picked her up at the school. I was told "that we just sold the last eight". Aaarrrgghh...!
That means a customer before me came in and ordered eight(!) Shamrock Shakes, and all I wanted was ONE for my daughter(and a few sips for me). It was still only 4:00 in the afternoon on St. Patrick's Day. What about all the other people who might have wanted one after me?
Maybe next year I'll get lucky and get me Shamrock Shake.
I ended up getting R a small chocolate shake, which she seemed perfectly okay with. Maybe not the best thing to be putting into her body after a track practice, though? (as if the Sham Shake would have been any better....)

Oh gawd...today WAS a manic, frustrating Monday. And then I come home to having to hear the Grammy Awards Show(R taped it so she could watch it after school today) with Stevie Wonder (always great) singing "Superstition"(good idea) with the Jonas Brothers (bad idea). I have always hated the Grammies (not a fan of awards shows, in general). I shall shut the door now.

That's better. I just want some quiet.
Anyway, here I am back home and thought I would answer some Manic Monday questions.

What is your favorite candy?

I like Haribo Gummi Bears (not the clear "white" ones, though), those Boston Baked Beans candies and Goetz's caramels. * note: I differentiate candy from chocolate. Chocolate is in an entirely different (necessary) food category from candy

Name one thing that you'd want to receive as a gift for Valentine's day.

Beautiful weather up in Boston for walking around, please....

J and I are driving up there Saturday morning and spending the weekend.

Can we truly love someone who loves another ?

Yes, of course, but it is sadly wasted if it isn't returned..

Frosty Frigid Friday

Time for another Friday Fill-in...

1. Enough with the _____ announcement of school cancellations around here the night before, when only 2 to 3 inches of snow is predicted or it is going to be...cold!. (see further below for explanation/rant.)

2. American Idol_____ causes me to be conflicted. I want to not get sucked into watching it(it is everything about music I am so not into at all), and yet...I can't look away. Must...resist.... somehow.

3. I've been craving _____new boots and not the L.L. Bean kind, but gorgeous sexy new black boots. High boots-low boots, I am not sure what kind. But I want to check out the sales...

4. The Office_____ makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to _____ Hawaii next week. (and stay until the first week of April)

6. The never-ending Israel/Palestinian conflict_____ has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____ "Slumdog Millionaire", tomorrow my plans include _____ more sit-ups (first time in my life that I popped a button on a pair of jeans!) and a birthday dinner for my sister at my parent's house and Sunday, I want to _____ get my veggie and flower seed orders filled in and ordered!

**On Wednesday, dozens of schools in this state cancelled school for the next day by 7:00 in the evening in anticipation of....the 2 to 3 inch snowfall that was threatening us! It amounted to practically zilch, with most of the accumulation along the coast(which means us, by the way, and our school district did NOT cancel and we all somehow survived)and barely anything further north and inland where nearly all the school districts cancelled classes. You would think they would feel stupid after that, but no-- a good portion of those same schools also announced school cancellations for today because it is going to be too cold. Maybe in the cities it is different with kids actually walking to school, but I know for a fact that most younger kids sit in their parent's warm car at the bus stop on cold days.

Yeah, I know I sound like the Dana Carvey grumpy old man("In my day we waded in thigh high deep snow for three miles in shorts just to reach the school bus stop where we rode a bus with no heat and we...LIKED IT!"). We are only midway through January with more cold and snow to come, I am sure. Seriously, so far this winter, it seems like half the school districts have cancelled classes every time snow is forecast. If they keep doing that, kids will be in school until at least the 4th of July. BTW, here's the weather report for this region today: Sun and clouds mixed. Cold. High of 18F(-8*C). Low of 6*F(-14*C) Winds W at 5 to 10 mph

Okay, I am open to any lecturing about my "cold-heartedness" about this.

Three random thoughts

I was thinking this certain thought about a certain song that gets played during the holiday season all the past week. And then Eartha Kitt dies on Christmas Day (age 82 of colon cancer) and I was thinking--"nah..I can't write that now.."

But, here I go anyway~

I decided this year that I really hate that "Santa Baby" song. Same goes for "I saw Santa Kissing Santa Claus". It might have to do with a certain "ick factor" about Santa being a sugar daddy and possibly sexual being. Something like that. (Sorry, Eartha. I have to say you were one unique and talented lady and a wickedly awesome Cat Woman, though.)

Why do the Christmas and holiday songs suddenly vanish from the airwaves exactly at the stroke of midnight on December 26? Some places were playing Christmas songs the day after Halloween. I think they should wait later and play them a little while after Christmas. It is still Christmas to me, anyway. And if I see a thrown out Christmas tree this week, I'll scream. I don't understand that. My own husband was an "okay, Christmas is over, let's get the tree out of here" guy until I re-trained him. I try to make it until January 6. (have to say, though--the needles are already falling like crazy)

I have been watching the old Bob Newhart(the first one) and Mary Tyler Moore Show all week on TV with Mr. Friday.(some really great Christmas episodes) I never thought I would sound so "old geezer-ish" but, they really don't make them like they used to. Also, the 70's interiors(electric typewriters , ringing black dial phones with cords, macrame plant holders, wood panelled walls, fondue sets and lots of chrome furniture), fashion, hair and and even the sound of the the theme songs is entertaining.

Thank you, young lady in the Jetta!

You have restored my faith in humankind. Heh....heh....

If it hadn't been for that one polite and civilised blonde college age girl who let me into traffic yesterday afternoon, I think I was truly going to either explode or break down and cry right there in my own car.

I had about five or six trying encounters (although I don't know if I can really say "encounter" when it involves people behind steering wheels and encased in automotive steel) yesterday that are still bugging me today. I know I should be over it....but obviously it is still bothering me.

I absolutely HATE rudeness in daily life. I try to be polite. It's just me--can't help it. Maybe that is why I like "insult comics" like Don Rickles so much--maybe it is because I can never bring myself to be that impolite as much as deep down, I might like to.

Anyway, yesterday around 1:00, I decided to step out for a lunch break from work and treat myself to a tuna pocket from D'Angelo's--a sandwich place basically around the corner. Being that it was cold and windy out and I hadn't dressed right (weird temperature changes in the last two days--from 57*F to 32*F so I don't even know what kind of coat to wear in the morning), I got in my car to take what I thought would be a quick trip for my lunch and back again.

Even before I left the parking lot, I got a taste of vehicular rudeness. In this country, I "thought" everyone knows that we drive to the right side, and I was waiting to turn left onto the road at the RIGHT side of the parking lot when I notice this other car come up alongside the LEFT of me and starts inching out towards the road as well, so obviously now I cannot even see the oncoming traffic beyond this car looming out beside me. Why couldn't this car simply wait behind me, and THEN inch it's way forward? That's what I would have done. I just found it rude, but calmed down once I did eventually get out on the road (after this car, mind you!!).

So, I drove a few feet and there was a green light for me to pass through, when I had to slam on my brakes right at the light because a car coming from the other direction decided to attempt to turn into another entrance right in front of me!! The man in the car did slow down when he saw me, but it was pretty close and by this time I was a little rattled. What's going on?

I turn the next corner and then park in the lot of the sandwich place. I start to walk across the small lot to the building when I have to stop short because a car comes barreling into the lot , without even slowing down when the driver saw me. Maybe he DIDN'T see me? This driver was in a hurry, obviously, because he was parked and out of his car and directly behind me in the line inside and I HATED that!! Ha...ha....you should have seen the look I gave him but I really think he was oblivious to it anyway, so a lot of good that did. If I were brave enough, I should have brought up the fact that he should slow down and try not to run people over. But I didn't because I am a wuss.

I leave with the sandwich(and as I was approaching the exit, a car came in the "wrong" way and cut right in front of me in the lot to zoom into an empty space at the convenience store--almost forgot about that) and decide I need to calm down and get over how people were really making me nuts (there were a few incidents in the morning at the shop with certain strange customers, as well) --and decide to buy the day's paper from the drugstore so I could sit down and read it while I ate back at the store. I knew ahead of time that I might make myself more crazy because this drugstore is in a gigantic building with the world's tiniest lot where usually it is hard to maneuver around the giant SUV's and huge pick-up trucks on the best of days. But I thought I would risk it.

As I am stopped with my left-turn blinker on, and just about to turn when there is a break in the oncoming traffic, a giant car with an elderly man comes out of the nowhere it seems, and plants himself and this huge beast of a car in front of me and the rest of the road so all the cars have to stop while he slowly decides to inch forward. (and believe me, it did occur to me that this elderly man may have been having just as bad a time trying to make his way around town, dealing with the Friday afternoon traffic.)

Finally (and I am muttering obscene things now) I get in the tiny lot without a problem, go inside, and make my purchases. But when I come out with my newspaper and a pack of gum, I step off the sidewalk and have to once again (!) stop short because of a car with two women in it that comes roaring along and even though I am already partly out in the lot, the driver doesn't let me continue on, let alone slow down! By this time I think I am going crazy and was thinking maybe I am imagining that this is all happening to me? Maybe I have had days where I was in a fog and did these kinds of things to other people--drivers and pedestrians , so this day was payback time?

I got in the car and really felt personally offended by all the rudeness and I knew I was being silly but I felt like I was going to cry. I was all hyper sensitive about what had just happened and it isn't even PMS time. Why was I letting this all bother me so much? I decided to unwrap my sandwich and eat it in the car while I read the paper. I just wasn't ready to drive again and and was feeling a little shaky by this time and needed to eat. I was somewhat calmed down after I ate, but was still mulling over all the little incidents that had occurred in the last 20 minutes or so. I just wanted to get safely back to work (really!) and maybe blow off a little steam by telling the co-worker about it all.

Now, I was on guard and driving defensively, ready for anything--really expecting more rudeness on the mean streets of Wakefield. (how could I ever cope with a place like New York or LA? I know I couldn't ever drive in those places)

I leave the lot and am waiting a very short while to make a right turn back onto the street, when the young girl in the nice silver VW Jetta is--what?!-- actually slowing down and waving me in ?? I waved back to her once my car had turned and was in front of her's. She'll never know, of course, how much I needed a person like her to come along at that moment.

Later that night, I saw on the TV news that there was a full moon out. Maybe this is what influenced all the kooky driving? Or influenced my too touchy responses to the incidents? I ended up having a very good night after dropping R off at a friend's house for a slumber party because J and I went out to Red Stripe for the first time. We were very pleasantly surprised by the great food and prices--see menu above--and the atmosphere ( with jazzy Christmas songs playing in the background and cozy booths with a brasserie flair) in there and we are definitely going back. I had their Shepherd's Pie. There's nothing like some good old comfort food with your handsome best friend in the whole world, on a cold night and after a mean day behind the steering wheel.

I have to add I had one more incident, when I went to pick up some photo prints after leaving R at her friend's house at another drugstore near my house. Once again, I was waiting at the end of the exit lane with my left turn signal on and I was shocked when I noticed a car squeezing up alongside my car on the left, and trying to turn left onto the road (instead of waiting behind me), as well! There isn't a second lane, though! Or was there? Now I was beginning to doubt myself and was beginning to think it is me who is the horrible driver. I just don't get it! I am also beginning to think I must have missed the news that it is now okay to create one's own road rules. ( is it the German in me that gets indignant when people don't follow the rules? LOL!) This is Rhode Island after all...I think we have the worst drivers after New Jersey and New York, last I heard. Maybe we are Number One now.

This is almost a "oh-woe-is-me", cranky Sat. morning entry. I was asked to come in to work today and even though I of course was looking forward to not being at that place for two days (especially after a crazy and exhausting Friday on the job), I said "why, yes I would come in."

i need
more time..more time to get things done here at home and more time in general.

i want
a job where there isn't so much drama sometimes. Not having to deal with the general public might be nice for a time, too. (yeah, yeah...I know deep down that I am lucky to have a job in this economy...but....gotta complain anyway.)

i listen
to silence on a Satuday morning. No birds singing, everyone else asleep...only the hum of the monitor.

i feel

drained and lifeless today--not the best way to begin the day.

i watch
it becoming lighter outside-- the sky a gentle baby aspirin peachy pink behind the trees

i play
not so much lately--being on the internet for a half hour this morning is as close to playing as I might get today.

i read
Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gilman--got through two chapters only so far and nearly dropped it in the tub last night.

i eat
some Trader Joe's boxed granola cereal and milk--not as good as I had hoped. Need (more time!) to make some granola from scratch...

*Update:

I am now at work and determined to be in a better mood. As I drove in, I listened to a radio account of living conditions in North Korea and the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe. Makes my pitiful complaining seem pretty lame.

Dampened Spirits

Rainy Day on Columbus Street in Boston by Childe Hassam

Crap! More rain.

I am writing here finally, but I am going to have to make this a whine-fest about the continuing rain.

Yes, it is raining...again! It rained Friday, it rained Saturday, it rained all of yesterday....and it was disheartening to wake up in the dark on a Monday to..more rain??! Rachel is supposed to go on class trip to the town beach today. It was supposed to have been Friday but they had to cancel and change it to today. Who knew it would still be raining?

Just getting a little cranky about it. It was fine walking around under umbrellas all day in Boston on Saturday. We were making the best of it. It was tolerable walking around in a raincoat with the dog yesterday, seeing how many mushrooms had sprouted on everyone's lawns--making the best of it. I have been mocking my own hair--pointing out it's wild kinks and curls and frizz. Saying I should be in a stage production of Hair. Now I want my normal hair back, please.

*Update-- if you want to read and see something less ornery, visit Rosemary's uplifting blog today. I had to smile when I visited there just a minute ago. At least she has got the right attitude about the wet weather.

Peeved and Imageless

"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." ~Franklin P. Jones

I was only slightly irritated as I sat down to type a few lines here.

Then, I grew increasingly annoyed, as firstly--Blogger isn't allowing any images to load at the moment. I have tried five times. Oh well. I am a Yahoo 360 deserter, so am used to the occasional posting glitch here and there. I expect Blogger will have it fixed by tomorrow.

Secondly, Rachel must have sipped too much iced tea this afternoon (or drank Coca-Cola over at her friend's house), because she is chattering away to me non-stop tonight. She is in the other room watching some awards show on Fox (the "kid's choice something or other" with a soundtrack of screaming kids and b-a-a-a-d music) and keeps trotting in and out of this room, with a running commentary on what's happening on-screen. I pretend to be interested, and I KNOW I should be grateful she is speaking to me at all, but I really don't care to know what Jason Castro is wearing in the audience, or that David Archuleta is sitting next to his father. If you don't know the names I just wrote, consider yourself lucky. Believe me, I do know these names, since there is still American Idol mania and Archie worship going on in this house. And, yes, we just purchased tickets to the A.I. tour for the Sept. 7 date in Providence...oh joy! Guess who is going along with Rachel? Well, she is excited because we surprised her with the tickets yesterday and actually, I think I just may enjoy the show, too, since I followed the whole last season and really got caught up in it too. Me--I'm a Cook fan.

Now, here was yet another interruption from the Wonder Girl just now, but this one was funny!

"How come Mariah Carey dresses like a grown-up Bratz doll?"

Snerk.

Third annoying thing: I couldn't open the can of whipped cream for our strawberry shortcake dessert. There's this plastic ring thing on the cap that was impossible for me to tear off. I have opened these cans before without a problem but this one won't come off for me! And John is out of the house. But, it's too hot to get annoyed over these little things. So, I am eating whipped cream-less strawberry shortcake and trying to calm down.

I have had little time to myself lately and work has had a few situations crop up that are making me anxious. I wish I could erase my worries about job-related stuff. I know I worry about essentially nothing. Maybe a second helping of strawberry shortcake will help me. Even without whipped cream on top, it is pretty darn tasty!

*Update:
The husband returned home just in the nick of time. He boldly cracked open the Ready-Whip can and strawberry shortcake with whipped cream was happily consumed. My hero.

This was going to be....

....a cranky entry, but I had to laugh at what Rachel just said.

I have been greatly annoyed by the firecrackers going off for the last hour in the neighborhood. Tommorow's the 4th of July, and it started a few days ago already, and someone will continue on setting them off for another month. It happens every year like this around here. (Luckily, my dog is not bothered at all by the noise, ever)

So, Rachel came in the room saying that "It must be Hannah's brother doing it up the street."(Hannah is one of her friends from school who lives a few streets up the hill)

"He likes his explosives."

Not so funny in print, but the way Rachel said it made me laugh. (since this kid was about 18 months old, I swear she has been one ironic little comedian)

Now, I am in a much better mood and won't bother to rant about my day and all the mean-spirited, disheartening, just plain RUDE people I had to deal with, just about everywhere I went.

Besides, there is a cricket right outside my window, chirping loudly away, and all through the fireworks going off, this tiny insect has been clearly audible. My little serenading Pavarotti of the insect world.

So, a sunny little drawing of mine:

"Eve with Bangs" Or should I write, "Eve With A Fringe"..or "Eve Nervously Eyeing The Bee"..?

And a much better mood to go to sleep on.

I think the fire-crackin' has finally stopped, too. No, wait! A few more...*sigh*