Saturday, February 06, 2010
Snow Day
Thanks to an event cancellation due to 28 inches of inclement weather, I had a bona fide snow day today. Normally I would be at work on a Saturday, storm of the decade not withstanding. You know how it goes, neither rain nor snow will keep us. Yep, even on a day that the US Postal Service suspended their operations, the supermarket was open.
It was nice to have a day with out a schedule and nowhere to be. Freedom to do whatever, whenever. A rare occurrence indeed.
A few days ago I received two emails. Each from a different web related vendor, and both announcing pending upheaval for Wednesdays Off and Sarcasmo's Corner. Need I tell you that panic ensued ? If you've been reading along you know that Sarcasmo was the brains of the operation. She was tech support. And she made it look easy.
I was relaying my dismay to Sarcas-sis who said we ought to take a class in this blog stuff. That is on my list as soon as I have the time. As are piano lessons. Every time I dust the 88 keys in the dining room I think it should be used for more than displaying photos. I am pretty sure I got the music in me, I just can't get it out. And ballroom lessons so I can dance myself skinny like the celebrities on Dancing With the Stars. I think I got the rhythm as well. All of this while Sarcasdad and I are travelling the world.
If I should ever win big in the lottery, life will be one big snow day. Only I would get to leave the house. Posted by Star
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It was nice to have a day with out a schedule and nowhere to be. Freedom to do whatever, whenever. A rare occurrence indeed.
A few days ago I received two emails. Each from a different web related vendor, and both announcing pending upheaval for Wednesdays Off and Sarcasmo's Corner. Need I tell you that panic ensued ? If you've been reading along you know that Sarcasmo was the brains of the operation. She was tech support. And she made it look easy.
I was relaying my dismay to Sarcas-sis who said we ought to take a class in this blog stuff. That is on my list as soon as I have the time. As are piano lessons. Every time I dust the 88 keys in the dining room I think it should be used for more than displaying photos. I am pretty sure I got the music in me, I just can't get it out. And ballroom lessons so I can dance myself skinny like the celebrities on Dancing With the Stars. I think I got the rhythm as well. All of this while Sarcasdad and I are travelling the world.
If I should ever win big in the lottery, life will be one big snow day. Only I would get to leave the house. Posted by Star
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Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ish Kabibble
You know what they say. That nothing brings family together like a wedding, or a funeral. Unfortunately, it was the latter that gathered our clan from several corners of the continent.
Those of us still together last night decided to go out to dinner. So 12 of us descended upon our favorite neighborhood restaraunt. A lovely little spot sandwiched between a bar and a hair salon that serves the best Thai cuisine I have ever had ,with perhaps the exception of one meal I ate years ago in Germany. The place has the capacity to seat about 40 people , so we rather dominated the room. As it goes with such groups, there were conversations being held over top of other conversations. And the 12 included our 2 youngest family members, the CP and Sparkle. They are very well behaved children, but, still children. One an infant. So games were played, like , shoot the matchbox cars down the table, and pass the baby from one relative to the next. I felt a little bad for the couple trying to have a nice romantic dinner across the aisle. Just a little.
I know that Sarcasmo Jr., as well as the Flutist and her hubby, the Composer were sorry they had to leave before we all sat down to steamed dumplings and spicy duck. But they will really be sorry when they learn ,that we, played Whisper Down the Lane.
I think it started with a whisper from Sarcasis into the CP's ear. Whatever the secret was, he passed it along to his great-aunt.(I know that sentence made her feel old). She obligingly passed it to his great-uncle and so it went , right around and through a great grandmother, a few more great uncles, a second cousin ( or is it a cousin once removed ? I can never get that straight), Sarcasdad and myself and the CP's dad. Right back to the CP who giggled mightily to find that "Ish Kabibble" had come back as "fish & poodle".
Can we party or what?
The game continued through desert. I suspect some tom foolery on the part of at least one Great Uncle. There is no other explanation for" Mickey Mouse " transposing into "Donald Duck." Posted by Star
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Those of us still together last night decided to go out to dinner. So 12 of us descended upon our favorite neighborhood restaraunt. A lovely little spot sandwiched between a bar and a hair salon that serves the best Thai cuisine I have ever had ,with perhaps the exception of one meal I ate years ago in Germany. The place has the capacity to seat about 40 people , so we rather dominated the room. As it goes with such groups, there were conversations being held over top of other conversations. And the 12 included our 2 youngest family members, the CP and Sparkle. They are very well behaved children, but, still children. One an infant. So games were played, like , shoot the matchbox cars down the table, and pass the baby from one relative to the next. I felt a little bad for the couple trying to have a nice romantic dinner across the aisle. Just a little.
I know that Sarcasmo Jr., as well as the Flutist and her hubby, the Composer were sorry they had to leave before we all sat down to steamed dumplings and spicy duck. But they will really be sorry when they learn ,that we, played Whisper Down the Lane.
I think it started with a whisper from Sarcasis into the CP's ear. Whatever the secret was, he passed it along to his great-aunt.(I know that sentence made her feel old). She obligingly passed it to his great-uncle and so it went , right around and through a great grandmother, a few more great uncles, a second cousin ( or is it a cousin once removed ? I can never get that straight), Sarcasdad and myself and the CP's dad. Right back to the CP who giggled mightily to find that "Ish Kabibble" had come back as "fish & poodle".
Can we party or what?
The game continued through desert. I suspect some tom foolery on the part of at least one Great Uncle. There is no other explanation for" Mickey Mouse " transposing into "Donald Duck." Posted by Star
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
It's a Little Late to the Station
Sarcasdad recently took possession of a toy train set. It is the one his Dad set up for Christmas when Sarcasdad and his four brothers were boys. Now not only are those boys grown, but their boys have grown as well. The engineer's cap is being passed to the CP's generation of the Sarcas-family.
The plan was for Sarcasdad to set it all up in time to surprise the CP on Christmas. Besides the train and track there are all kinds of accessories. Plastic houses and places of business. Little people and trees and park benches. Everything carefully stored in the original boxes. To use it all would require space so Sarcasdad decided to set up a platform in the basement.
I think it was the next day we discovered the leak that put into motion the destruction , and consequent reconstruction of, the basement. That was the job that was supposed to be done in a week and in reality took a month. Anyway, that put Sarcasdad a bit behind. As did a major work related project that left him no spare time. That wrapped up right before Christmas and Sarcasdad unpacked the train, only to find it wasn't in working order.
So service was delayed while we upgraded to a more modern system. The engine might be new but it still circles around the old plastic houses and the same plastic people. The shiny new track runs right by the plastic Exxon station where, by the way, gas is advertised at 27.9¢ a gallon, and 32.9¢ for premium.
We are on schedule for a New Years Day inaugural run with the CP at the controls. Posted by Star
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The plan was for Sarcasdad to set it all up in time to surprise the CP on Christmas. Besides the train and track there are all kinds of accessories. Plastic houses and places of business. Little people and trees and park benches. Everything carefully stored in the original boxes. To use it all would require space so Sarcasdad decided to set up a platform in the basement.
I think it was the next day we discovered the leak that put into motion the destruction , and consequent reconstruction of, the basement. That was the job that was supposed to be done in a week and in reality took a month. Anyway, that put Sarcasdad a bit behind. As did a major work related project that left him no spare time. That wrapped up right before Christmas and Sarcasdad unpacked the train, only to find it wasn't in working order.
So service was delayed while we upgraded to a more modern system. The engine might be new but it still circles around the old plastic houses and the same plastic people. The shiny new track runs right by the plastic Exxon station where, by the way, gas is advertised at 27.9¢ a gallon, and 32.9¢ for premium.
We are on schedule for a New Years Day inaugural run with the CP at the controls. Posted by Star
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Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Scenic Route
One Christmas season years ago, I was in the kitchen and I could hear Sarcasmo Jr. having a conversation with someone at the front door. That's going back a bit since she still lived at home. When I asked who she was talking to, she replied "the UPS guy." I asked if she knew him as they were speaking for a bit longer than it takes to "sign here". "Mom", she said,"he's here everyday at 5 o'clock". Even then I preferred online Christmas shopping to hitting the malls.
This year for some reason I am having delivery issues. Right after ThanksgivingI ordered a toy I thought might be hard to get later in the season. I got the last one in stock and it shipped the next day. I waited , and waited. This particular vendor did not give me a tracking number up front. On December 5 I contacted the vendor to see where my package was. They sent me the FedEx tracking information which showed I was not at home one day, (true, but there was no notice left on my door) and the next day the package was supposedly refused. That day I was home all day. Just me and the carpenter. You remember the carpenter, right? Anyway the FedEx man did not come knocking. The toy was already halfway back to California. In the end I located another one to order by mail. Then I saw one at a store and bought it, just to be on the safe side. The one I ordered made it to my door as well. So if anyone is looking for the Transformer Construction Devastator, I have an extra.
I also ordered something from a vendor I have dealt with many times before. They are always prompt in their delivery. It shipped on the 8th. This vendor always supplies a tracking number and I have been watching it like a hawk. That is how I know that so far it has traveled from a town in upstate Pennsylania (A), to Rutherford NJ,(B) to Elkridge Maryland,(C) on it's journey to Philadelphia.(D)
Seems like a lot of extra effort. So far my package has gone 450 miles to make a 145 mile trip. Hopefully there are no more detours. Posted by Star
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This year for some reason I am having delivery issues. Right after ThanksgivingI ordered a toy I thought might be hard to get later in the season. I got the last one in stock and it shipped the next day. I waited , and waited. This particular vendor did not give me a tracking number up front. On December 5 I contacted the vendor to see where my package was. They sent me the FedEx tracking information which showed I was not at home one day, (true, but there was no notice left on my door) and the next day the package was supposedly refused. That day I was home all day. Just me and the carpenter. You remember the carpenter, right? Anyway the FedEx man did not come knocking. The toy was already halfway back to California. In the end I located another one to order by mail. Then I saw one at a store and bought it, just to be on the safe side. The one I ordered made it to my door as well. So if anyone is looking for the Transformer Construction Devastator, I have an extra.
I also ordered something from a vendor I have dealt with many times before. They are always prompt in their delivery. It shipped on the 8th. This vendor always supplies a tracking number and I have been watching it like a hawk. That is how I know that so far it has traveled from a town in upstate Pennsylania (A), to Rutherford NJ,(B) to Elkridge Maryland,(C) on it's journey to Philadelphia.(D)
Seems like a lot of extra effort. So far my package has gone 450 miles to make a 145 mile trip. Hopefully there are no more detours. Posted by Star
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Party On
In a bold move, the CP's parents threw his birthday party in a venue unfamiliar to children of his generation. They had it at home.
No costumed mascots or ticket spewing games. No clowns or magicians. Just Mom and Dad and a couple of parents who stayed to help out.
Space was limited so the guest list was just the CP's very bestest friends instead of his entire preschool class. The parents are all acquainted so they needed no encouragement to drop their kids off and go. In fact, they seemed quite giddy at the prospect.
The party had a super hero theme. The boys decorated their own masks, choosing to use surprising amounts of glitter to express their inner Batmans.
Instead of turning in fistfuls of tickets earned at solo machines for prizes, the boys competed with each other. They played Super Hero Bingo. They were spun around and blindfolded for stick the villain on the Spiderman poster. For safety's sake, more so ours than theirs, they were given stickers to place, not pushpins. Pass the Kryptonite sort of degenerated into something else all together, but the boys were all on board for the pinata. After all, how often does an adult hand you a WMD inside the house and tell you to whack the heck out of something?
In between the boys ate pizza and cupcakes and made their own fun. They weren't on anyone's schedule but their own. They had a great time.
Novel idea. Maybe it will catch on. Posted by Star
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No costumed mascots or ticket spewing games. No clowns or magicians. Just Mom and Dad and a couple of parents who stayed to help out.
Space was limited so the guest list was just the CP's very bestest friends instead of his entire preschool class. The parents are all acquainted so they needed no encouragement to drop their kids off and go. In fact, they seemed quite giddy at the prospect.
The party had a super hero theme. The boys decorated their own masks, choosing to use surprising amounts of glitter to express their inner Batmans.
Instead of turning in fistfuls of tickets earned at solo machines for prizes, the boys competed with each other. They played Super Hero Bingo. They were spun around and blindfolded for stick the villain on the Spiderman poster. For safety's sake, more so ours than theirs, they were given stickers to place, not pushpins. Pass the Kryptonite sort of degenerated into something else all together, but the boys were all on board for the pinata. After all, how often does an adult hand you a WMD inside the house and tell you to whack the heck out of something?
In between the boys ate pizza and cupcakes and made their own fun. They weren't on anyone's schedule but their own. They had a great time.
Novel idea. Maybe it will catch on. Posted by Star
Permanent Link |
Sarcasmom's Top Ten List
Here are the top ten ways you can ensure going home from the market with smooshed bread and broken eggs.*
#10. Watch me bag your entire order and then tell me you want paper and plastic.
#9. Tell me how much cheaper, friendlier, and better stocked a competitor is.( so why aren't you there?)
#8. Tell me how to do my job, since you are obviously an expert.
#7. Interrupt me while I am waiting on the customer who's turn it really is. I may not bag your order, but I have friends on the registers.
#6. Give your kid a balloon or a toy to hold while you shop because you don't know how to say the word "no". Then expect me to wrestle it off them when you get to the checkout.
#5. Subject us all to your screaming child. (see #6.)
#4. Get in line with $50 of groceries and $10 on your debit card. Then remove the least expensive items , one at a time, and ask me for a new total after every single deduction. If I don't squash your bread the guy behind you will.
#3. Realize as your order is being processed that you forgot something and disappear back into the store. For good measure leave behind the screaming child from #5 for me to babysit while you finish your shopping. Refer to #4 to see probable outcome.
#2. Tell me that all the other cashiers take your expired coupons.
And the number one way to ensure smooshed bread and broken eggs is........
#1. Get into line as the store is closing on Christmas Eve and tell me what a shame it is I have to be at work as you throw your multi-cart order up on the belt.
* you know I'm kidding, right? Right? Posted by Star
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#10. Watch me bag your entire order and then tell me you want paper and plastic.
#9. Tell me how much cheaper, friendlier, and better stocked a competitor is.( so why aren't you there?)
#8. Tell me how to do my job, since you are obviously an expert.
#7. Interrupt me while I am waiting on the customer who's turn it really is. I may not bag your order, but I have friends on the registers.
#6. Give your kid a balloon or a toy to hold while you shop because you don't know how to say the word "no". Then expect me to wrestle it off them when you get to the checkout.
#5. Subject us all to your screaming child. (see #6.)
#4. Get in line with $50 of groceries and $10 on your debit card. Then remove the least expensive items , one at a time, and ask me for a new total after every single deduction. If I don't squash your bread the guy behind you will.
#3. Realize as your order is being processed that you forgot something and disappear back into the store. For good measure leave behind the screaming child from #5 for me to babysit while you finish your shopping. Refer to #4 to see probable outcome.
#2. Tell me that all the other cashiers take your expired coupons.
And the number one way to ensure smooshed bread and broken eggs is........
#1. Get into line as the store is closing on Christmas Eve and tell me what a shame it is I have to be at work as you throw your multi-cart order up on the belt.
* you know I'm kidding, right? Right? Posted by Star
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Saturday, November 28, 2009
In My Mind I Am On the Beach With a Book
One of the best things about vacation is not having to set the alarm clock. Right ? So naturally I have been up since 4:30, unable to stop making lists in my head of things to be done this week. I am pretty sure the week, which from my current vantage point looks like a long stretch of time which I will utilize with amazing efficiency, will in fact not be anywhere near enough time to get everything done. Unless I block Facebook. I am pretty sure that come this time next Saturday I will be saying to myself, "where did the time go?" Actually this time next week I hope to be asleep, but we'll see.
Getting the lists, which at the moment are more like the message board outside a building I see in New York City, where the news feed just loops around again and again, from my head and onto paper will go far in helping me get things accomplished. Paper? Or the always in my pocket iPhone? Maybe both. Double the work , but I am not sure I am entirely ready to go without a hard copy. I suppose I could put the list on my laptop and somehow load it onto my phone, but that just sounds like more than I can conquer in the week.
The vacation would be better if Sarcasdad was sharing it with me. For years we went away this week in December to celebrate our anniversary. This year will be number number 37. Last year we decided that all the relaxation was great while it lasted which was about until the plane landed and we realized we only had three weeks til Christmas.
It is a good thing we had no plans to travel this year since time and money is being spent on the new sewer pipe and the destruction and renovating of the basement. Sarcasdad spent his vacation housebound while workmen came and went. The project was supposed to completed in a week. ( I can hear you all snickering now). The plumber would come do his thing, the carpenter would come do his thing, the plumber would come back and finish up, and then all would be right with the world. The plumber, who we have used forever, came and did his thing. The carpenter , well we inherited him from the plumber. He came. The destruction part was swift. The rebuilding, not so much. He showed up for two of the three days he was supposed to be here. He was astounded to learn that Sarcasdad was not a man of leisure and therefore would not be lolling around the house to let him come and go at will. Imagine that. He has to work for a living. Since then it has been a day here and there. We have learned that when he says he will be here at 10, he really means he may be here around 11:30. Or not at all, which we find out after we call him. One day he couldn't come because his helper was not available. So he comes on a rare Sunday to make up. He was here for a whopping three hours, half of which involved him unloading and loading various pieces of equipment from his truck. I am not sure if he even used them all. He brought his son along to be his helper, and he, while polite was as obviously thrilled as you would expect any young man his age to be, being out of bed and laboring at 9 am on Sunday morning. His assistance consisted of being sent from the basement to the yard to do or get something. After poking around a bit he would yell down the to his father, that he couldn't find it, and his father would ascend the steps and do whatever needed doing. Heck, I could have done that. Next time the helper calls out I'm there. That Sunday was better than this past Sunday when he was here for a whopping 45 minutes.( sans helper) On Wednesday he didn't show and when Sarcasdad called him the carpenter said it was because of the rain. Not at all sympathetic, Sarcasdad assured him he wouldn't melt so the carpenter came, but was about as enthusiastic as his son was on Sunday.
I am told he will be here this Sunday to wrap it up. I am dubious. I am also not telling him I am on vacation this week. I have so rarely had to deal with independent contractors, having been blessed with people in my life who are handy and hard working. I have heard stories though, and apparently people really weren't exaggerating.
Time to make the lists. Wish me luck. Posted by Star
Permanent Link |
Getting the lists, which at the moment are more like the message board outside a building I see in New York City, where the news feed just loops around again and again, from my head and onto paper will go far in helping me get things accomplished. Paper? Or the always in my pocket iPhone? Maybe both. Double the work , but I am not sure I am entirely ready to go without a hard copy. I suppose I could put the list on my laptop and somehow load it onto my phone, but that just sounds like more than I can conquer in the week.
The vacation would be better if Sarcasdad was sharing it with me. For years we went away this week in December to celebrate our anniversary. This year will be number number 37. Last year we decided that all the relaxation was great while it lasted which was about until the plane landed and we realized we only had three weeks til Christmas.
It is a good thing we had no plans to travel this year since time and money is being spent on the new sewer pipe and the destruction and renovating of the basement. Sarcasdad spent his vacation housebound while workmen came and went. The project was supposed to completed in a week. ( I can hear you all snickering now). The plumber would come do his thing, the carpenter would come do his thing, the plumber would come back and finish up, and then all would be right with the world. The plumber, who we have used forever, came and did his thing. The carpenter , well we inherited him from the plumber. He came. The destruction part was swift. The rebuilding, not so much. He showed up for two of the three days he was supposed to be here. He was astounded to learn that Sarcasdad was not a man of leisure and therefore would not be lolling around the house to let him come and go at will. Imagine that. He has to work for a living. Since then it has been a day here and there. We have learned that when he says he will be here at 10, he really means he may be here around 11:30. Or not at all, which we find out after we call him. One day he couldn't come because his helper was not available. So he comes on a rare Sunday to make up. He was here for a whopping three hours, half of which involved him unloading and loading various pieces of equipment from his truck. I am not sure if he even used them all. He brought his son along to be his helper, and he, while polite was as obviously thrilled as you would expect any young man his age to be, being out of bed and laboring at 9 am on Sunday morning. His assistance consisted of being sent from the basement to the yard to do or get something. After poking around a bit he would yell down the to his father, that he couldn't find it, and his father would ascend the steps and do whatever needed doing. Heck, I could have done that. Next time the helper calls out I'm there. That Sunday was better than this past Sunday when he was here for a whopping 45 minutes.( sans helper) On Wednesday he didn't show and when Sarcasdad called him the carpenter said it was because of the rain. Not at all sympathetic, Sarcasdad assured him he wouldn't melt so the carpenter came, but was about as enthusiastic as his son was on Sunday.
I am told he will be here this Sunday to wrap it up. I am dubious. I am also not telling him I am on vacation this week. I have so rarely had to deal with independent contractors, having been blessed with people in my life who are handy and hard working. I have heard stories though, and apparently people really weren't exaggerating.
Time to make the lists. Wish me luck. Posted by Star
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Monday, November 16, 2009
I Mean It
The CP and I were playing. He, he proclaimed, was Prince Charming, and I was Snow White, whom he had awakened with a kiss. I know, he had mixed up his Disney princesses , but who hasn't.
After a bit my prince requested that I portray the wicked queen. The bad girls are always more fun so I was glad to comply. I had only gotten in a cackle or two when the prince determined that the queen's less than amicable personality was probably due to a lack of successful inter-personal relationships. He said, he would be my friend and then I wouldn't be mean anymore.
A bit later Sarcas-dad passed through the kingdom and asked what we were doing. "Well" replied the prince, "me, and the Un-Mean Queen here are coloring".
The Un-Mean Queen. I love it. That' s my next blog. You know, when this one gets filled up. Posted by Star
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After a bit my prince requested that I portray the wicked queen. The bad girls are always more fun so I was glad to comply. I had only gotten in a cackle or two when the prince determined that the queen's less than amicable personality was probably due to a lack of successful inter-personal relationships. He said, he would be my friend and then I wouldn't be mean anymore.
A bit later Sarcas-dad passed through the kingdom and asked what we were doing. "Well" replied the prince, "me, and the Un-Mean Queen here are coloring".
The Un-Mean Queen. I love it. That' s my next blog. You know, when this one gets filled up. Posted by Star
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Trickle Down Theory
The other day I had a little leak behind the washer. Sarcasdad is pretty handy, but he deferred to the plumber. As the plumber was leaving I heard terms like "demolition" and "public adjuster ".Turns out the leak is not so little.
The soil pipe needs to be replaced. To get to it, the floor needs to be dug up. The toilet and sink enclosed in cheap paneling , which the plumber generously referred to as a powder room has to go, as well as a storage closet and the enclosure around the water heater.
Sigh.
Hopefully, this time next week. it will all be over. Except for the adjusting part. As I understand the procedure, the PA goes to bat for us against the opposing adjuster from the Yankees , insurance company adjuster. ( sorry, Game 1 of the World Series in on the tv). The insurance company coughs up more than they would have without the interference. The PA gets a hefty percentage of the take, possibly leaving us with less than what we would have gotten on our own. But he'll be happy. It's our own personal stimulus program. Glad to help.
The demolition began today with the "powder room" and closets being taken out. I missed it all. I left the house and it was all here. I came back and the basement looks bigger and emptier.
Actually I will miss most of the heavy lifting. Starting Monday Sarcasdad is taking his version of a vacation, where he works from home. He will be dealing with the noise and the mess, and I will be volunteering for overtime at the Pathmark.
It could be worse. At least that's what the plumber said as he gave us the estimate. And if it is, the price goes up accordingly. Posted by Star
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The soil pipe needs to be replaced. To get to it, the floor needs to be dug up. The toilet and sink enclosed in cheap paneling , which the plumber generously referred to as a powder room has to go, as well as a storage closet and the enclosure around the water heater.
Sigh.
Hopefully, this time next week. it will all be over. Except for the adjusting part. As I understand the procedure, the PA goes to bat for us against the opposing adjuster from the
The demolition began today with the "powder room" and closets being taken out. I missed it all. I left the house and it was all here. I came back and the basement looks bigger and emptier.
Actually I will miss most of the heavy lifting. Starting Monday Sarcasdad is taking his version of a vacation, where he works from home. He will be dealing with the noise and the mess, and I will be volunteering for overtime at the Pathmark.
It could be worse. At least that's what the plumber said as he gave us the estimate. And if it is, the price goes up accordingly. Posted by Star
Permanent Link |
