Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
oy effin' vey
I've only been here since Thursday night and I have already made several "please just let me vent" phone calls to friends.
Next time I visit, someone remind me to secretly videotape my family...I just need objective proof that I am not the crazy one.
My therapist is gonna need it.
I still have a dozen half-finished posts from that frugality series I started (and will re-start), but, trust me, the new "oy effin' vey" series will be far more interesting. There will be dog poop, a flat tire, and a whole lot of cussin'.
I hope you are all faring well. I'm presently home alone, curled up with a certain Lab, and enjoying the gorgeous, peaceful views of mountains and a frozen lake, wishing I had a human with me to witness this insanity and laugh about it.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
I am making a great impression on my neighbors: part II
Part I.
Around 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, I put the dogs in the backyard and went to pick my way-overripe-because-I-haven't-picked-for-a-week raspberries in the side yard. All of a sudden, I heard Jack barking his "play with meeeeee" bark, which is rather loud and demanding and can quite easily scare the barkee who is not familiar with his many different barks. Fearing that Jack had cornered the downstairs tenant's girlfriend - who isn't comfortable around large animals with teeth - I bolted from the side yard around to the front of the house and ran...smack into a gaggle of trick-or-treaters exiting my front porch as no one answered the door.
(Who the heck trick-or-treats at 2:30pm?)
"Oh, hi!" I stuttered. "I don't have any candy, but, um, can I offer you some raspberries?" (It being 2:30pm, I hadn't yet bought candy.) A darling little princess and butterfly looked at the bowl and promptly let out dual wails. Thereby setting off the infant pumpkin in his father's arms who, by now, was giving me a look.
I thought they were typical American corn-syrup-and-sugar fiends upset that the proffered bowl held fruit. And so I knelt down to the tear-streaked pair and told them that I would run inside and get some treats (I send a care package to a soldier every month and was planning on mailing it Monday...no problem if borrowed some cookies in the meantime, right?) if they didn't mind waiting just a moment. The girls backed away to the safety of their father's legs.
Did I have something in my teeth? Had I forgotten to wash off that morning's facial mask?
The father gathered his little teary brood and left without a word. I walked inside shaking my head and just happened to catch a glipse of myself in the mirror.
Not only were my hands and palms stained a bright red - raspberry red, incidentally - but my white top was splattered with drops of juice and a crimson handprint. I even had a smear of juice on my cheek!
They were the first and last trick-or-treaters of the day. Evidently, word about the crazy lady on the block spread fast.
Around 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, I put the dogs in the backyard and went to pick my way-overripe-because-I-haven't-picked-for-a-week raspberries in the side yard. All of a sudden, I heard Jack barking his "play with meeeeee" bark, which is rather loud and demanding and can quite easily scare the barkee who is not familiar with his many different barks. Fearing that Jack had cornered the downstairs tenant's girlfriend - who isn't comfortable around large animals with teeth - I bolted from the side yard around to the front of the house and ran...smack into a gaggle of trick-or-treaters exiting my front porch as no one answered the door.
(Who the heck trick-or-treats at 2:30pm?)
"Oh, hi!" I stuttered. "I don't have any candy, but, um, can I offer you some raspberries?" (It being 2:30pm, I hadn't yet bought candy.) A darling little princess and butterfly looked at the bowl and promptly let out dual wails. Thereby setting off the infant pumpkin in his father's arms who, by now, was giving me a look.
I thought they were typical American corn-syrup-and-sugar fiends upset that the proffered bowl held fruit. And so I knelt down to the tear-streaked pair and told them that I would run inside and get some treats (I send a care package to a soldier every month and was planning on mailing it Monday...no problem if borrowed some cookies in the meantime, right?) if they didn't mind waiting just a moment. The girls backed away to the safety of their father's legs.
Did I have something in my teeth? Had I forgotten to wash off that morning's facial mask?
The father gathered his little teary brood and left without a word. I walked inside shaking my head and just happened to catch a glipse of myself in the mirror.
Not only were my hands and palms stained a bright red - raspberry red, incidentally - but my white top was splattered with drops of juice and a crimson handprint. I even had a smear of juice on my cheek!
They were the first and last trick-or-treaters of the day. Evidently, word about the crazy lady on the block spread fast.
Friday, March 27, 2009
happy birthday!
(to me.)
Pictures taken by Roommate, last year.
Jack loves a good party!
Coco does not. She's the girl who didn't get invited and then calls the police with a noise complainy.
Why so serious?
Ah, that's more like it.
I don't know if that's a yawn or grin.
Jack's rubber chicken got leid.
"Who invited you?"
I don't think dogs are supposed to eat wax candles.
Or balloons.
Reflecting on another year.
Pictures taken by Roommate, last year.
Jack loves a good party!
Coco does not. She's the girl who didn't get invited and then calls the police with a noise complainy. 
Why so serious?
Ah, that's more like it.
I don't know if that's a yawn or grin.
Jack's rubber chicken got leid.
"Who invited you?"
I don't think dogs are supposed to eat wax candles.
Or balloons.
Reflecting on another year. Monday, January 5, 2009
Kwanzaa
I'm not looking to start a debate on Kwanzaa here. I know the (criminal) background of Ron Karenga and why he created the holiday. I know about the Seven Principles. I know how people celebrate the holiday. I know that it is no longer limited to African-Americans.
However, I've never met a single person who actually celebrates Kwanzaa. Do you? Given that I'm in regular contact with people of pretty much all faiths - Baha'i to Zoroastrism, literally - I would have expected to have been invited to a Kwanzaa party or two by now! In fact, I mail all my holiday cards with Kwanzaa stamps: not only are they pretty and colorful, it's easier than sorting out the Mary and Child, menora, and snowflake stamps for the Christians, Jews, and secular folks, respectively, who receive my holiday cards. Plus, from what I've read, Kwanzaa is not a faith-specific holiday. So Kwanzaa for everyone. And no peeved phone calls from the Christian who accidentally got the menora stamp: "Don't be afraid to wish me a Merry Christmas!"
Related, I was reading up on Kwanzaa in the papers and came across an interesting comment. Summarizing, the commentator noted that Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa all share the same "bring light to the darkness of winter" theme. The Light for Christians, oil and menoras for the Jews, candles for Hindus, and kimaras for Kwanzaa. I guess this theme only applies on one side of the equator? Interesting, nonetheless. I highly recommend crashing a Diwali festival. Beautiful. And peppery papadum slathered with that orange-colored onion relish is delicious.
***
Tip/trick/lesson of the day: Free box of organic cereal.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Glitters, feathers, and sequins
The Mummers' Parade is the America's oldest folk parade. To sum up Mummery for those who have never seen Mummers, it is a wildly festive celebration of the new year.
Some deride Mummery as an excuse for men to drink, prance around in drag, and urinate in public. (Only a few Mummers clubs allow women, though the Comics allow young daughters to participate.) Perhaps I have seen around them long enough to grow weary of them, because I just love watching the Mummers. Fancy costumes, fun, and the occasional biting satire: who could not love that? The Mummers also do a fair amount of charitable work, as well.
The most amazing thing about the Mummers is that thousands of ordinary people labor all year long to create incredibly intricate costumes and props in perfectly choreographed performances. They are not professionals. They have families and full-time jobs and general life responsibilities. They find the time, energy, and funds to work year-round to give the city a fantastic Jan 1.
May I join? :)
Picture credit, picture credit, picture credit, picture credit, picture credit.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Charity, Cheaply: Part I
Ever since I was a Poor Starving Student, I've sent away for free samples. Toiletries, food, drink, dog treats, cleaning supplies - everything. Whether it is a free box of cereal, free tea, or free toilet paper, it is like opening a weekly birthday present. The travel-sized items are perfect for the gym, emergency travel, or similar. Most of these items come with *great* coupons, too. If you can't use them, give to a friend who can. Or, use them for items you don't use and then donate. Iams gave me a coupon for a free bag of dog food - my dogs don't eat Iams, so I picked it up and gave to a local dog shelter. General Mills gave me a whole book of buy-one-get-one items with which I purchased a whole cart of cereal already on sale for a local food pantry. I think I got $50 worth of cereal for under $10. I stuck that receipt on the fridge :)
Lately, most of these free goodies go to my soldier. I have "adopted" a soldier in Iraq and send him a care package every month. These individually wrapped cookies and granola bars can be stashed in a pocket and dispensed to children. Until a few months ago, I had never encountered a single person connected to the military. I now know how much something as small as a hand wipes, deodorant, and candy can mean to someone aching for his family, friends, and...Little Debbie Snack Cakes. Regardless of whether you think American soldiers should be where they are, consider making someone's life just a bit happier for a moment. I spend under $20 every month: a flat-rate package sent to an APO is $8, regardless of weight, and there are lots of places to buy inexpensive toiletries and snacks. And, if you take 5 minutes to sign up for coupons and free offers, you can save even more!
This month's care package had a definite Halloween theme: non-chocolate candy (it melts in the heat), Halloween-themed hand towels, watercolor paints and a paper pad, and snacks. I gave up looking for Halloween-theme toiletries; soap and toothpaste do not come in orange. Sigh.
I am sure there are plenty of troop care package sites out there. I obtained my soldier's name from Troopcarepackage.com. (Warning: I specifically requested a female soldier, reasoning it would be easier to simply send over two of whatever personal products I purchased for myself, and the site noted that it honored requests based on home town and military branch. I was confused when I was given a male name, but now know that it was intentional due to the number of men who wish to start a romantic pen-pal relationship with a female soldier. Don't request female.)
My freebie routine and rules:
1. I only request samples of items I know I can use. Free is great, waste is not.
2. I spend 5-10 minutes 1 day a week filling out the forms. There are *tons* of free sites out there, but I stick to Shop4Freebies, Arlana's, and Wal-Mart. In my experience, the Wal-Mart samples always come, and come within a few days. Most of these sites update the offers at least once a day, but I don't have the time for that.
3. If I try the item and don't care for it, any accompanying coupons are offered to someone else.
4. I only request truly free samples. Take care not to become involved in an automatic billing program, and ignore "free" samples that require either a subsequent purchase or a survey. (These surveys usually end with a purchase requirement *after* you just filled out a page of opinions!)
Lately, most of these free goodies go to my soldier. I have "adopted" a soldier in Iraq and send him a care package every month. These individually wrapped cookies and granola bars can be stashed in a pocket and dispensed to children. Until a few months ago, I had never encountered a single person connected to the military. I now know how much something as small as a hand wipes, deodorant, and candy can mean to someone aching for his family, friends, and...Little Debbie Snack Cakes. Regardless of whether you think American soldiers should be where they are, consider making someone's life just a bit happier for a moment. I spend under $20 every month: a flat-rate package sent to an APO is $8, regardless of weight, and there are lots of places to buy inexpensive toiletries and snacks. And, if you take 5 minutes to sign up for coupons and free offers, you can save even more!
This month's care package had a definite Halloween theme: non-chocolate candy (it melts in the heat), Halloween-themed hand towels, watercolor paints and a paper pad, and snacks. I gave up looking for Halloween-theme toiletries; soap and toothpaste do not come in orange. Sigh.
I am sure there are plenty of troop care package sites out there. I obtained my soldier's name from Troopcarepackage.com. (Warning: I specifically requested a female soldier, reasoning it would be easier to simply send over two of whatever personal products I purchased for myself, and the site noted that it honored requests based on home town and military branch. I was confused when I was given a male name, but now know that it was intentional due to the number of men who wish to start a romantic pen-pal relationship with a female soldier. Don't request female.)
My freebie routine and rules:
1. I only request samples of items I know I can use. Free is great, waste is not.
2. I spend 5-10 minutes 1 day a week filling out the forms. There are *tons* of free sites out there, but I stick to Shop4Freebies, Arlana's, and Wal-Mart. In my experience, the Wal-Mart samples always come, and come within a few days. Most of these sites update the offers at least once a day, but I don't have the time for that.
3. If I try the item and don't care for it, any accompanying coupons are offered to someone else.
4. I only request truly free samples. Take care not to become involved in an automatic billing program, and ignore "free" samples that require either a subsequent purchase or a survey. (These surveys usually end with a purchase requirement *after* you just filled out a page of opinions!)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
I Love Halloween
I do love Halloween...a day exclusively dedicated to fun, costumes, apple cider, candy corn, and scaring one's self silly.
Coco Does Not Like her costume. Jack is too big and too manly for them.
(We are in costume early for a dog charity event.)
As I write this, I am painfully aware that I have become one of those people who dresses her dogs in Halloween costumes.
Coco Does Not Like her costume. Jack is too big and too manly for them.
(We are in costume early for a dog charity event.)
As I write this, I am painfully aware that I have become one of those people who dresses her dogs in Halloween costumes.
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