Black Friday

For the first time ever I planned to hit the stores on Black Friday at 5 a.m. with an experienced Black Friday shopper-friend.

Now the stores open at Midnight or 10:00 p.m. at Toys R Us. NO FAIR!

Early-birds deserve the first crack at the hot deals since they plan ahead, set their alarm and hit the road - coffee in hand.

The NW Caribou Coffee is open at 3:00 a.m. I asked Pebbles the friendly barista if I could come in my pajamas at that time and she said "why not" It might be fun to sit at Caribou and watch the bleary-eyed shoppers who have been out since Midnight -- keep your eyes peeled for the woman in sock-monkey footed jammies and come say HI.

Ask before hugging

I forget sometimes to ask permission before hugging a sweet little child. No, don't call the cops - I am not a weirdo or deviant...sometimes they are just so precious I want to hug them or pat their head.

We are honored to work to work with some kids at our church in the music program. Last Sunday I said "good job your name here" to the child and gently
ruffled her hair her without thinking. Then I came to my senses and said "I hope you didn't mind that I ruffled your hair" and she said "no, I like you Mrs. Snyder". (awwww) I decided to find out who her Mom was and introduce myself;. The Mom said it was okay but that from now on I will have to pay her a dollar a week for the pleasure of being nice to the kid. ha ha ha.

It is worth the price!

Auction

There must be a better way for a non-profit agency to raise money than having yet another same old same old Silent Auction. If the prizes are items like a box of glass cleaner and a used basket of pacifiers from the Dollar Store you can probably guess it won't be a big money-maker.

Then comes the dreaded check situation out of the auction items -- ay yi yi what a mess! I think people should just toss money, grab the items and run!

Impatient GuppyGirl you ask? You betcha! Did I get the one and only item I wanted? I don't know yet but if you see me wearing a lovely hand-knit blue scarf when winter finally arrives you will know for sure :- )

the good old days

Recently I went to JC Penneys and asked to see a men's catalog. The clerk informed me they don't print them anymore. Then I asked to see the large catalog and was informed they haven't printed them in 3 years!

I want the good old days back when you could browse through a catalog and dog ear the corner if you liked an item. I don't think that is asking too much is it?

What do people do that don't have a computer or don't choose to shop on line? A savvy retailer would have a catalog geared specifically to that population. Oh wait maybe they do and I need to go online to find it!

Then I went to the ladies room at the store which is located in - where else? the men's department. That area was the ladies area "over 20 years ago"

So I guess I want some things to change and some to remain the same which would put me smack in the confused category of life...

Finallly..

A three month lapse between posting is terrible - sorry blog reader(s)

However,we are moved, settled, thrilled to be in our one level town home and should be able to start blogging on a regular basis. Hopefully I can learn how to add the smiley guys soon as well.

We have downsized and donated to the point that the clerk at Saver's and I are on a first-name basis. When a young man with piercings, tattoos and funky clothes told me I am "like - the coolest person who donates" I knew the sacrifice and work was worth it.

Thanks to Shirley who is a wonderful friend, motivator and task-master I am now rid of tons of things I no longer need - or so I've been told.

I have been gently threatened by a few people to "keep your closets neat or else" and after just over 3 weeks could pass a closet inspection :- )

Check back in a few days to see if I figured out the smiley situation!

Memory

Years ago during an extremely stressful and hectic time in my life
my dad told me:

"Vicki Lou, if you had a tattoo you would lose it"

Well, I didn't get a tattoo and my memory did improve awhile but as I age
I find I forget more and more each day.

Did I turn off the iron? (It is an appliance that gets wrinkles out of clothing for young people reading this blog) Thank heavens for a coffee machine with an automatic shut-off.

It would be great to be able to eliminate useless information and stock it with
new and helpful information like my passwords, what I was going to buy
at the grocery store or my husband's name - ha ha ha - Just kidding about that one.

Do I need to recall the words to "The Beverly Hillbilly" TV theme song when I didn't even
like the show? The name of the nun who taught me in 3rd grade? No.

So if I see you out and about and smile but don't greet you by name please
forgive me and just pat me on the head and go on your merry way.

VBS

For years I told stories to children. I was Mrs. Claus, Tubby the Clown, Edith the Easter Bunny but never volunteered for Vacation Bible School until this year.

What a blast! Sure it was loud and chaotic but that was part of the fun! Craft rooms filled with glitter, beads and (hopefully) edible glue. Little ones crying and clinging to the leaders and the experienced VBS-ers showing the ropes to the newbies.

One little girl came up and said can I sit on your lap? Absolutely! I wanted to hug and kiss her since I am a Grandma-wanna be but refrained so I would not be labeled a weirdo.

4 more days of excitement and spreading the word of Jesus.

My life is blessed!

MIA

No, not military MIA...just the kind of action that takes the focus away from blogging.

Jeepers Creepers! (as my friend from New York would say) life has been crazy.

Our house is up for sale so we can move to a one level town home. For those of you organized people like Turtle this is not a big deal since you are already neat. You don't have closets referred to as the "black hole" You don't caution people to open the storage room door as their own risk. The house was clean, not just ready to sell.

After a few weeks of incredibly hard work we are ready! The kiss of death wallpaper has been removed and painted. The carpets have been cleaned. The storage room is a work of art and over 70 bags of precious junk have been donated.

So if you want to purchase an amazingly clean 3 bedroom 2 bath rambler with new air conditioning and furnace, 2 year old appliances and fresh paint just email me for the details. Our lovely home is in a nice NW neighborhood and the asking price is $127,900. Buy it today and live in it next week!

DRUMMING

Which is most likely -- I have been dull and lazy and didn't post OR my life is so full of excitement I didn't have time to write a 10 minute post?

You are correct!

I believe nearly two months between posts is a record, not one of which to be proud.

The new activity for this year has been DRUMMING! My 82 year old energetic pal Bob has been talking to me about the joys of drumming for about two years. Finally I gave in and went to a beginning drumming group. To my utter delight and amazement I had a blast! I am now the surdo (think big fat base drum) player for Theradruma.

They claim they didn't match the instrument to the body type but I have my doubts.

Eventually the goal is to take this drumming/homemade instrument group to senior living facilities and awaken the senses - to jump start some inner beat.

Led by the talented Dr. Dale Rohlfing, this once a week band of eclectic "musicians" get grooving, moving and laughing. The happiness alone is contagious enough to perk up anyone in a senior living facility.

We hope to make our first public appearance on Fat Tuesday -- stay tuned.

2011 Words to live by

"Life has no remote...Get up and change it yourself"