If it’s Monday, it must be Dunkin Donuts….Actually, I go every morning for coffee and I mean every single morning. I would say that I’m not really awake until I have had a medium black coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Forget going to Starbucks. Without a drive-thru, Starbucks never had a chance to hook me on their strong java jolt. The drive-thru is great…you can put anything on and just go…the clothes on the floor, heck even your PJs….whose gonna know (not that I would do that or anything.) But the biggest thing is that I don’t think I could have an intelligent conversation if I had to wait in line for my coffee. If I ran into someone I knew and I had to string 2 words together....real trouble. How do Starbucks people do it? Maybe they are a more intelligent species. I wanna hug the person that invented the drive-thru!
This morning, I made my usual trek over to DDs. Our Dunkin Donuts has two ways to enter the drive-thru. I usually sneak behind the Liquor Depot and get in line from the back way. A lot of times I have no trouble with this tactic, but this morning there was already a huge line of caffeine deprived drivers queued up from the main entry, ready to receive their morning boost. Hmmmm… I would just have to wait patiently (sure I can do that) for everyone to go through….then I would get my turn for my caffeine fix. Well just imagine my surprise - the person in the big black Cadillac waved for me to go ahead…..actually motioned for me to cut the line!!! Wow, that is a biggie when you are talking about your morning coffee. So I did what most crazed caffeine seeking individuals would do…..I cut the line!
As I approached DDs and my cup of joe was moments away, I looked in my rear view window to see what nice individual would let me jump ahead. The person was an ole guy with a Veteran license plate and a Boston Red Sox cap (Go Sox) proudly displayed on his dashboard. I thought he was very kind to help me in my quest for coffee. When I got to the window, I told the DD attendant, “I want to pay it backwards….I want to pay for the nice gentleman behind me.”
You’ve heard of “Pay It Forward”…you know, doing “random” good deeds for people. Well, you can only “Pay It Backward” when you are in the drive-thru line… think about it, the guy would be gone already!!! Okay, so I know I’m not a champion of the world or anything….but I felt that he had done a good deed so I wanted to show my appreciation. I’m sure he wasn’t expecting any return on his good deed (if he did, he might have ordered more than the 2 coffees!) It’s just important when we are out in the world, that we are nice to each other….
Sure better than me sneaking through the back way, squealing in on two wheels, forcing my way into the line, ramming my car up to the other guys bumper, flipping the guy off behind me and yelling “Have a Nice Day.”
So now it’s Tuesday….It must be Dunkin Donuts.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Wood Man Cometh
A few years ago…well actually quite a few…we lived in Manilus, New York. Manlius is located near Syracuse, in a snow belt off of Lake Ontario, so it gets its share of bad weather. To get prepared for our first long cold winter, we thought we should get wood for our fireplace. Being new in town, you are never quite sure where to go, but I had seen an ad in the local paper: Wood Man - Wood delivered. So I told my husband, “Let’s give the Wood Man a call.” We got quite a chuckle out of the Wood Man’s name… the Wood Man from Manilus. .. Ooooo the Wood Man. Anyway, the Wood Man delivered his wood and we were in woody heaven that winter.
The winters last forever in Manlius, the snow capital of the world. It was like we were living in a snow globe. It snowed every day…..like there was someone up there shaking our snow globe... it just kept coming down. So when the winter was finally over and it stopped snowing, it was now April and our taxes were due.
We had some complicated taxes to file so Pauly looked for an accountant. He found one in the local newspaper: The Tax Man. We thought it was funny that the town has a Wood Man and a Tax Man… real chuckle over that one. So Pauly got all his tax stuff together and I said I would drop the paper work off at the Tax Man’s office. Now, do you see where I am going here?
That day I found out that the Tax Man was the Wood Man. They were the same guy…hahahahehehe I thought that was hysterical. The guy is the Wood Man in the fall and the Tax Man in the spring. All he has to do it turn over his sign! So I wondered what kind of job the Tax Man was going to do on our taxes. Would he hack them up and we would end up going to jail because the Tax Man was really the Wood Man? We would have to explain to the IRS that the reason our taxes got chopped that year was because we actually hired the Wood Man.
So I couldn’t wait to tell Pauly….why do I get so much enjoyment out of these situations?? Should I break it to him gently or should I just blurt it out? I go for it.... “Honey, I dropped off the paperwork for the Tax Man, but uuuhhhh…..ummmm…..the Tax Man is really the Wood Man.” I’m waiting now…What’s Pauly gonna say? Will he freak out? Will he worry the Tax Man was really a hack? He replied, “Next time you see the Tax Man, put in an order for a cord of wood.”
I got to thinkin’…..what if the Wood Man delivers a cord of pencils???!!!!
The winters last forever in Manlius, the snow capital of the world. It was like we were living in a snow globe. It snowed every day…..like there was someone up there shaking our snow globe... it just kept coming down. So when the winter was finally over and it stopped snowing, it was now April and our taxes were due.
We had some complicated taxes to file so Pauly looked for an accountant. He found one in the local newspaper: The Tax Man. We thought it was funny that the town has a Wood Man and a Tax Man… real chuckle over that one. So Pauly got all his tax stuff together and I said I would drop the paper work off at the Tax Man’s office. Now, do you see where I am going here?
That day I found out that the Tax Man was the Wood Man. They were the same guy…hahahahehehe I thought that was hysterical. The guy is the Wood Man in the fall and the Tax Man in the spring. All he has to do it turn over his sign! So I wondered what kind of job the Tax Man was going to do on our taxes. Would he hack them up and we would end up going to jail because the Tax Man was really the Wood Man? We would have to explain to the IRS that the reason our taxes got chopped that year was because we actually hired the Wood Man.
So I couldn’t wait to tell Pauly….why do I get so much enjoyment out of these situations?? Should I break it to him gently or should I just blurt it out? I go for it.... “Honey, I dropped off the paperwork for the Tax Man, but uuuhhhh…..ummmm…..the Tax Man is really the Wood Man.” I’m waiting now…What’s Pauly gonna say? Will he freak out? Will he worry the Tax Man was really a hack? He replied, “Next time you see the Tax Man, put in an order for a cord of wood.”
I got to thinkin’…..what if the Wood Man delivers a cord of pencils???!!!!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
I'm Baaaaaaacccccckkkk!!!!
Florida was great….what’s not to like about Florida, the Sunshine State. The flight down was uneventful so that is why I am able to sit here instead of the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Uneventful flight = good flight.
It was wonderful to see my grandmother and Uncle Ellie and they seemed very happy to see us. In case you’re wondering…Uncle Ellie is my grandmother’s husband. Grandma has been married to Ellie for 36 years since my grandfather died. My grandfather, Ross, died at age 51 so then my grandmother married Ellie. We call him Uncle Ellie although he is like my grandfather by now. I gotta give you a little more background here…Uncle Ellie was married to my Great Aunt Fan. Fan was first married to my grandfather’s brother, Bud. After Bud died at age 31, Aunt Fan married Ellie. So then after Aunt Fan died and my grandfather died, Ellie and Grandma got married. It’s all really kosher and everything …it’s not like my grandmother married her brother or anything!!! So I know what you are thinking…. set the snooze alarm....enough of the genealogy already.
While there we stayed in the retirement park where grandma lives. It was a 2 bedroom, 1 ½ bath manufactured trailer unit. Actually very cute. I especially loved my bedroom. It was like sleeping in a closet which I have since found can be very handy. While lying in my twin bed I could touch the built-in closet on one side with one hand and at the same time touch the wall to the bathroom on the other side. How cool is that? So while I was lying in bed I could pull my clothes from my closet, put them on, swing my legs over to the other side of the bed, take one step and brush my teeth. If that isn’t efficiency…don’t know what is.
So let’s see …there were no special dinners or special dances at the park last week. That big fun doesn’t start until December. I have had the privilege of attending one of their Hawaiian Luaus in the past so I know what goes on. First thing I know for sure is that everyone has a rippin’ good time, especially after the Mai Tais kick in. Another thing I have noticed is there are a few devious and crafty widows who have their fingers crossed hoping that the other woman (probably their friend) will keel over so they can move in on the woman’s husband. They are circling like vultures waiting to pounce on their prey. (Sorry, I guess I’ve been watching too much Animal Kingdom.) But as statistics show….it’s usually the other way around, and the man kicks the proverbial bucket before the woman. ‘So good luck Mabel, if you think you can scoop ole Henry over there in the corner.’
The best thing about the trip was seeing that my grandmother was feeling better. She had gotten Shingles…..which sounds like she was going to do a little carpentry work on the outside of her house, but just ask her, it sure isn’t. Anyway, my grandma who is almost 93 seems to be getting through the worst of it. I would like to think that seeing our smiling faces…..you know… family, relatives, people who love you…. was the reason she started feeling better. I’m hoping grandma lives way past 100 years old….it would be fun to see Willard Scott wish her a “Happy Birthday.” Plus I’m hoping I might have inherited those longevity genes, cuz the ones from grandpops and his bro don’t look too promising. Go Grams!!
Anyway, it is good to be baaaaaaaacccccccckkkkkkkck….
It was wonderful to see my grandmother and Uncle Ellie and they seemed very happy to see us. In case you’re wondering…Uncle Ellie is my grandmother’s husband. Grandma has been married to Ellie for 36 years since my grandfather died. My grandfather, Ross, died at age 51 so then my grandmother married Ellie. We call him Uncle Ellie although he is like my grandfather by now. I gotta give you a little more background here…Uncle Ellie was married to my Great Aunt Fan. Fan was first married to my grandfather’s brother, Bud. After Bud died at age 31, Aunt Fan married Ellie. So then after Aunt Fan died and my grandfather died, Ellie and Grandma got married. It’s all really kosher and everything …it’s not like my grandmother married her brother or anything!!! So I know what you are thinking…. set the snooze alarm....enough of the genealogy already.
While there we stayed in the retirement park where grandma lives. It was a 2 bedroom, 1 ½ bath manufactured trailer unit. Actually very cute. I especially loved my bedroom. It was like sleeping in a closet which I have since found can be very handy. While lying in my twin bed I could touch the built-in closet on one side with one hand and at the same time touch the wall to the bathroom on the other side. How cool is that? So while I was lying in bed I could pull my clothes from my closet, put them on, swing my legs over to the other side of the bed, take one step and brush my teeth. If that isn’t efficiency…don’t know what is.
So let’s see …there were no special dinners or special dances at the park last week. That big fun doesn’t start until December. I have had the privilege of attending one of their Hawaiian Luaus in the past so I know what goes on. First thing I know for sure is that everyone has a rippin’ good time, especially after the Mai Tais kick in. Another thing I have noticed is there are a few devious and crafty widows who have their fingers crossed hoping that the other woman (probably their friend) will keel over so they can move in on the woman’s husband. They are circling like vultures waiting to pounce on their prey. (Sorry, I guess I’ve been watching too much Animal Kingdom.) But as statistics show….it’s usually the other way around, and the man kicks the proverbial bucket before the woman. ‘So good luck Mabel, if you think you can scoop ole Henry over there in the corner.’
The best thing about the trip was seeing that my grandmother was feeling better. She had gotten Shingles…..which sounds like she was going to do a little carpentry work on the outside of her house, but just ask her, it sure isn’t. Anyway, my grandma who is almost 93 seems to be getting through the worst of it. I would like to think that seeing our smiling faces…..you know… family, relatives, people who love you…. was the reason she started feeling better. I’m hoping grandma lives way past 100 years old….it would be fun to see Willard Scott wish her a “Happy Birthday.” Plus I’m hoping I might have inherited those longevity genes, cuz the ones from grandpops and his bro don’t look too promising. Go Grams!!
Anyway, it is good to be baaaaaaaacccccccckkkkkkkck….
Monday, October 15, 2007
Over The River and Through The Woods...
I'm gonna take a few days off from blogging….aren’t you the lucky one? I am going with my mother to visit her mother in Florida. That would technically be my grandmother. And she is 93 so every visit is very important…. especially to us. So when I am away I will not be able to blog. She lives in a retirement community…(let’s face it, you are very retired at 93 …heck, you are even tired of being retired) and she doesn’t have a computer (forget internet access) in her crib. It’s not like she hasn’t heard of it…after all, she is alive and kicking in the 21st century, but she frankly has no use for a computer.
I’m sure someday when my kid’s kids are flying around in their very own personal planes….I’ll be hugging my 4-door machine with 4 tires called a car. You’ll be hearing me say, “That’s okay honey, I’m gonna stick my Ford Escape over here….See ya when I get there.” Or when they talk through their sunglasses with music playing in the background on what they call a “Com - short for communications device”, I will say, That’s okay honey, I’m gonna stick with my nifty Motorola mobile cell phone.”
So when I get back, I might have a story or two from there….You see, that place is rich with material….lots of stuff going on….I’m sure there’s a dinner at the Rec. hall at 4pm followed by a dance til 7pm!!!
I’m sure someday when my kid’s kids are flying around in their very own personal planes….I’ll be hugging my 4-door machine with 4 tires called a car. You’ll be hearing me say, “That’s okay honey, I’m gonna stick my Ford Escape over here….See ya when I get there.” Or when they talk through their sunglasses with music playing in the background on what they call a “Com - short for communications device”, I will say, That’s okay honey, I’m gonna stick with my nifty Motorola mobile cell phone.”
So when I get back, I might have a story or two from there….You see, that place is rich with material….lots of stuff going on….I’m sure there’s a dinner at the Rec. hall at 4pm followed by a dance til 7pm!!!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Blog On
It has been almost a month since I first started to blog. By the way…do you know how the word blog was invented? Interesting fact here if you don’t already know. It is from two words….Web and Log. I’m glad someone (whoever you are) came up with “Blog.” I prefer the sound of, “I’m keeping a Blog” (Very Nice) so much better than “I’m keeping a Web Log.” (Nerdy)
And so I go: blog, blog, blog. But when my blog starts to sound like, Blah, Blah, Blah…I will have to sign-off forever. At this juncture, however, I will continue to blog the internet with kats tale of 5 until my peeps (Wishy Bones, Big C, Col, Frank the Tank -"just a nickname not a tank at all, and did I mention very sweet", and Deedlebug) tell me to stop.
So when my blog starts looking like and smelling like bologna…(Notice how much the word blog looks like bologna when you pronounce it the way it is spelled: bolog- na…pretty close, eh!)….. I will depend on the aforementioned to tell me to stop. They can say it gently with a wink and a nod, or they can shout it out: “Enough Already Kat!!”
Yep, I will fade into blogworld oblivion leaving only some final dots……. Until then….I Blog On!!!
And so I go: blog, blog, blog. But when my blog starts to sound like, Blah, Blah, Blah…I will have to sign-off forever. At this juncture, however, I will continue to blog the internet with kats tale of 5 until my peeps (Wishy Bones, Big C, Col, Frank the Tank -"just a nickname not a tank at all, and did I mention very sweet", and Deedlebug) tell me to stop.
So when my blog starts looking like and smelling like bologna…(Notice how much the word blog looks like bologna when you pronounce it the way it is spelled: bolog- na…pretty close, eh!)….. I will depend on the aforementioned to tell me to stop. They can say it gently with a wink and a nod, or they can shout it out: “Enough Already Kat!!”
Yep, I will fade into blogworld oblivion leaving only some final dots……. Until then….I Blog On!!!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Bull Work or Squirrel Work
My brother-in-law has the most interesting division of labor ever figured out for married couples. Before he does anything, he figures out if it is bull work or squirrel work. Bull work is something that the man does…such as heavy lifting, moving furniture, cutting down trees, shoveling snow…you know the big physical jobs. Squirrel work is smaller work and that is done by the woman….scheduling appointments, cooking the dinner, washing the dishes, vacuuming the floor, dusting the furniture…need I say more. The only problem with my brother-in-law's “rational thinking” is that my husband is totally on board with it. So for instance, the wife (uh, me) would be required to do the laundry because that has “squirrel work” written all over it. BUT if I needed the washing machine moved…yup, that’s bull work. Squirrel work is ironing the clothes and hanging them in the closet….. Bull work would be building a new closet. Getting the picture??? .
A very interesting thing about bull work is that sometimes it requires other bulls to get together to do it. The bulls congregate, put their bull heads together, maybe get a case, just in case they get thirsty, and talk about how the bull work should be done.
Now I can’t figure out what I dislike most about Squirrel work….is it the actual jobs in the squirrel category or the fact that I would ever be considered gray haired and bushy tailed. …...
Now I have a Bull work and Squirrel work decision dilemma-
It is time to practice driving with Sweet Wishy who is learning to drive and needs lots of practice. Would this be bull work or squirrel work? Don’t know …that’s a hard one…just know….all bulls and squirrels, head for the hills!!!
A very interesting thing about bull work is that sometimes it requires other bulls to get together to do it. The bulls congregate, put their bull heads together, maybe get a case, just in case they get thirsty, and talk about how the bull work should be done.
Now I can’t figure out what I dislike most about Squirrel work….is it the actual jobs in the squirrel category or the fact that I would ever be considered gray haired and bushy tailed. …...
Now I have a Bull work and Squirrel work decision dilemma-
It is time to practice driving with Sweet Wishy who is learning to drive and needs lots of practice. Would this be bull work or squirrel work? Don’t know …that’s a hard one…just know….all bulls and squirrels, head for the hills!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Designer Dogs
Do you like to dress your dog up and put clothes on him? Maybe not a whole outfit…like Seven jeans and a Harley Davidson jacket, but you know, a doggie sweater or maybe a little doggie scarf. After a day at the dog spa, our groomer puts a scarf on Duncan. To tell you the truth, I think it makes him look like a fruitcake…so I rip it off as soon as I am out of eye range of the woman. I wouldn’t want to offend the groomer lady. She is actually awesome and Duncan and I totally respect her. Duncan respects her because she has the scissors and his world by the b… and one slip could do a lot of damage. I respect her because she likes to use the word “bitches” when she talks about dogs. She does sound a little nasty, like she is swearing, but she can totally get away with it. She knows a lot about dogs and when you use the word “bitches”, it sounds like you have a PhD in dogs.
Back to doggie dress up….I have to admit, I have put a bowtie on Duncan for New Years Eve. On one particular New Years, we had some friends visit with their two dogs. At midnight we put party hats on the dogs and took their picture. It sounds kinda stupid and immature (we were young, really), but at the time, Oh so funny.
Chelsea has always wanted Duncan to wear an outfit. She has a friend who has a little dog that she dresses up with bows and clothes, so Chelsea started begging (good girl, nice Chelsea:) for something special for Duncan to wear. Reluctantly I got Duncan this big red jersey that had the number 9 on the back of it. Although he wasn’t a willing participant, we managed to get it on him. The jersey had to stretch way the heck over his big barrel chest. After all, he is a portly Portuguese water dog who has given up on his figure over the past 9 and a half years. He looked kinda silly, but I have to say, it made him look athletic. He looked like he could be a mascot for a team. Anyway, the kids really liked it and I think Duncan did too ….because when he wore it, they paid A LOT more attention to him. The kids played with him, gave him treats, threw the ball, and said nice things to him.
See, all ya need are some cool threads! Suddenly you’re a people magnet and everyone wants a piece of ya!
Back to doggie dress up….I have to admit, I have put a bowtie on Duncan for New Years Eve. On one particular New Years, we had some friends visit with their two dogs. At midnight we put party hats on the dogs and took their picture. It sounds kinda stupid and immature (we were young, really), but at the time, Oh so funny.
Chelsea has always wanted Duncan to wear an outfit. She has a friend who has a little dog that she dresses up with bows and clothes, so Chelsea started begging (good girl, nice Chelsea:) for something special for Duncan to wear. Reluctantly I got Duncan this big red jersey that had the number 9 on the back of it. Although he wasn’t a willing participant, we managed to get it on him. The jersey had to stretch way the heck over his big barrel chest. After all, he is a portly Portuguese water dog who has given up on his figure over the past 9 and a half years. He looked kinda silly, but I have to say, it made him look athletic. He looked like he could be a mascot for a team. Anyway, the kids really liked it and I think Duncan did too ….because when he wore it, they paid A LOT more attention to him. The kids played with him, gave him treats, threw the ball, and said nice things to him.
See, all ya need are some cool threads! Suddenly you’re a people magnet and everyone wants a piece of ya!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)