Thursday, May 30, 2013

My Day



This morning began before 6 AM with a baby possum in a trap. Someone pulled it out of his trunk to show me and then proceeded to release it in the middle of downtown Reading.  I’m not a big fan of them but the poor thing was tiny enough to be adorable and clearly petrified. It scooted back and forth along a wall before being threatened by a third someone who was intent on killing it simply because it was there. The first someone was all for it. He had trapped it by accident when attempting to capture the squirrel who was feasting at his birdfeeder. Me, being me intervened and the terrified critter wound up hanging from the side of the building. In the end I embarrassed him into recapturing it and taking it somewhere green to release it.

This afternoon I sat around in the blazing sun waiting for the nice mechanic from Howie’s garage to come poke at him. Every other time he was towed in he started for them so this time I insisted they send someone to us first in order to give them a better idea of what is going on since it’s rather difficult to fix something that’s working. He poked and tested and listened and hmm’d until he determined the possible causes and then asked me to arrange a tow.

Today’s AAA woman was truly miserable. Rude and downright bitchy! By the time she finally got to the point of asking why I needed a tow I was very close to giving her a truly smartass response but stopped myself before it slipped out. It would have been wasted on her since it was very evident she had no sense of humor.

Howie was happy to see his favorite tow truck driver again.  For the third, and hopefully last, trip with him.  Yeah, I really don’t think it’s necessarily a good thing to be greeted by the man come to take away my car like we’re old friends although there are worse things that could happen. At least I know he will get him there via the shortest route and not cause me to incur extra towing costs like the last guy did.

And then I picked today’s gallon of strawberries.

Woohoo!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

I Spoke Too Soon

Tried to go to work today and Howie refused to start.  Do you think he's worried about getting his new shoes dirty?

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Howie is Happy!



I had an extra long weekend and spent part of today questing new shoes for Howie.  Mission accomplished!  And very easily. 

Before setting out I did some research online.  I had three destinations chosen.  Two of the three listed tire price then charged for all add-ons such as installation.  They both had some rebates available that would have brought the price down, though not down to where I wanted it.

The third had no deals on the tires in my price range but their price included everything.  Mounting, balancing, new valve stems.  Everything.  I’d been there before when I needed a slow leak patched and had a good experience so I decided to start there first even though they were a bit more expensive after the rebates at the other places.

It’s a rainy Tuesday so there was no waiting when I walked in.  I told the salesman what I wanted.  Yes, I am capable of reading the sidewall of the old tire to find out what size Howie wears.  He was about to go into his whole speech but I cut him off, asking only for the options below a certain price, a price lower than either of the other two rebated prices.  I also only needed to say no thank you once to all the other services they offer before he understood that I was truly not interested and no amount of coercion would get me to spend more today.  I always appreciate that.

Guess what!  They have leeway in their prices that are adjusted on the spot.  All the customer has to do is ask.  Hey, can’t fault them for that.  If you don’t at least ask you deserve to pay the higher price, right?  So in less than an hour and no extra driving around, Howie has brand new, bright and shiny shoes.  He is happy.  We are safer on the road since his old ones were looking really, really shabby.  And it was accomplished at less than I expected to pay.  In fact, I have enough left that I can now go have a nice lunch.  What more can you ask for?

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Uh Oh!

From four berries to two quarts in less than a week.  This is not good.  Berries cleaned, check.  One tub plain, one sugared, check.  Strawberry iced tea made, check.  Recipe for strawberry salsa, check.  Now what to do with tomorrow's...

Friday, May 24, 2013

Remember

This weekend when you're off at your picnics remember those who fought for our freedom.  Take a minute to say thank you.  Without those brave souls...

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Ha!



Eleven years ago, back before the days of auto-transfer everything, I pulled up to the bank drive through intending to make a loan payment.  I had the cash clipped to the coupon.  I tucked it securely into the carrier and sent it on its way.  A moment later the teller asked where the money was for the payment.  I’m sure I said something stellar at first, like huh as I knew it was attached and included.  She repeated the question, stating that all she received was the coupon.

On and on it went from there, as you might imagine.  I am one hundred percent certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I sent it through the tube.  She insists I didn’t.  I was so positive I requested them to review the tape of me assembling the carrier.  After longer than it should have taken, the manager credited my account since I’d been a good and loyal customer for almost fifteen years.  When I pushed on why they weren’t interrogating her instead of me but I was ignored.  It was however, the last time I ever saw her there.

The outcome was that even though I had done nothing other than attempt to make a loan payment in the same manner I had been for several years I was banned from using the drive up.  Yes, treated like a damn criminal for doing something as sinister as trying to be responsible and pay my bills.  Punishment – indefinite.

Today I had a whole slew of errands to do, including making a small deposit.  It had been a few years since I attempted the drive up and I was very busy so I gave it a try.  Nope.  Still forbidden, have to come inside.  Which made me extremely angry.  So when the teller who has been there the entire time I’ve been banking there asked how I was I responded honestly.  I guess I looked and sounded as furious as I was because her boss joined us almost instantly.  I explained my outrage and was promised the matter would be reviewed.

An hour later the supervisor called me.  The ban has been lifted.  I am no longer condemned to parking and standing in line for minor transactions.  I was very well behaved and thanked her politely.  Aren’t you proud of me since you know that’s not at all
what I was thinking?

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

From my Yard

End of the Poppies

Inside an Iris

Poppy Pods in Sepia

Monday, May 20, 2013

Uh Oh!

Yesterday, one.  Today, seven.  Yes, I ate a few before I took the pic.  Tomorrow, 492.  Evil, I tell you.  Evil.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013

Howie!

The Wonder Car not only takes me to and fro but doubles as the best gardening assistant I could ask for.  He totes the pretties!  I was going to take him up and down the aisles at Glick's Greenhouse instead of using one of their wagons but he's just a tad bit too wide.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Vacation!

I know, I know.  I'm a bad blogger this week.  But I'm on vacation from work so I've been out and about doing this and that instead of here.  I did hear something today that I thought I'd post to keep you entertained until I return.  Click here to read the article and then please, do not try this at home.in

If you're having a bad day and are thinking you've done the dumbest thing ever, trust me, you have not.  This guy did!  One question - What the hell was he thinking?

Friday, May 10, 2013

Planting Season!

This is what I did today. 
For those of you in the Reading area these flowers came from the Master Gardener plant sale at the Berks Ag Center. It runs til 7 tonight and from 9-1 tomorrow. Lots of pretty things! Annuals, perennials, shrubs, bushes, veggies and herbs. Go get some!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Escape!

Fist poppy of the year and it chose to climb through the fence and bloom in my neighbor's yard.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb



Finally, after ignoring them for mrph mrph years, I couldn’t stand it and took down the curtains in my kitchen and dining rooms in order to wash them.  Dust everywhere!  Poor Beau had never witnessed this task before and was highly concerned.  So much so that he was agitated and  talking to me straight through the entire cleaning process, windows, sills, walls, until they returned to what he thinks is their rightful place at the windows.

Do you know what I remembered when I was three quarters finished rehanging them?  I hate having curtains on those windows!  I only got them when the bastard I let live in my house for far too many years insisted.  Without them, it’s bright and cheerful.  With them, even though they are white and gauzy happy balloon curtains covering only the top half of the windows, it gets dim and dreary.

I never saw the need for them.  Still don’t.  The house that those windows face has shades pulled down to within four inches of the sills with drapes that cover all but the center ten inches of window.  And they’ve been like that since I moved in twenty-five years ago.  I seriously doubt those neighbors will suddenly alter their routine.  They just aren’t like that.

But, since I had already gone to the effort of washing the blasted things and was nearly finished reinstalling them, I let them stay.  For now.  I did however, warn Beau that this was the last time I’d be doing so.  Next time they get dusty enough to bother me they’re going straight into the trash and he’ll have to learn to deal with it.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Lookee!

I'm so excited!  After 20 years my holly bush is making berries for the first time!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Turn Off Your Computer!

Now!!!  What are you doing inside reading this when you could be out enjoying the springtime?  That's what I'm about to go do.  You should too!

Happy weekend, all!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

More Pretties in my Yard



Beauty in death


Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Prima Donnas, the Lot of Them

Characters, that is. I was happily listening to the Penguins tonight, cheerful that they were beating the Islanders when a new character popped in and smacked me upside the head. She demanded that I start on her tale immediately.  Nevermind that I was preoccupied with the game.  Nevermind that I was in the middle of knitting a new pair of mitts.  No manners, this one. She didn't even properly introduce herself, outright refused to tell me her name, just insisted I take this down. So of course I did.  Who am I to argue when a character is being chatty?

"I’d rarely been one to back down from a challenge and I was not about to start then. No, that was one I simply could not ignore, not with how he was sitting there looking entirely too smug. He was smiling at me as if I was some cowardly little girl who didn’t have a clue. I had no choice but to show him just how wrong he was."

Oh yeah, she's going to be fun!

Giggle!