2021 - A Year In Review

 Alas, it is that time once again to take a look back and see all of the scary frightening things that we did this year.

Here are some of the highlights on Scary Journey:

We learned 

 politics brings out the ugly side of people

People don't wash their hands

I provided you with some mask pick up lines

The lost art of cursive handwriting

There are lots of Karen Stories that I shared, just search Karen on the blog

I ran out of dental floss (my GoFundMe is still taking donations)

my new exercise videos titled, Cardio with Curly

I added a few more purses to my collection

Curly and the dumb bells

the secret group chat (that I am not a part of)

the meaning behind red easter eggs for Greek Orthodox

I played hooky from work (and had lots of fun)

Masks are still around and people feel the need to whisper when wearing them

if you want to work in retail, search retail problems on the blog for some insight

my new career as a mosquito whisperer

my kids like to watch TV with subtitles

we got a new toaster and I have mastered how to burn toast (well, I was already an expert)

things to do at 4am

my attempts at making Rice Krispy Treats (I'm determined to master the recipe!)

we celebrated 10 years of A Scary Journey (YIKES!)

grocery store music has changed over the years

how different states react to the "Student Driver" sticker on your car

We learned a little about RT this year:

he has his "own knife" (that I sometimes use, SHH!)

his sexy look (shorts, long socks and shoes)

his procrastination skills

And, of course, we learned some things about My Weird Dog

Marking the mango juice

Pippen now gets regular manicures

Pippen had a rough fourth of July

Pippen and his CBD "trip"

Oh yea, we made some stuff

Vasilopita Bread

Vegan Brownies

Red Velvet Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies using aqua faba

Easy Vanilla Cake

Pupcakes (cupcakes for dogs)

Crispy Tofu

Kale Pesto

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Sadly, we said good bye to a couple of people this year.  We will miss you, Mark and Paul.

  

It's been 10 long  scary  frightening  wonderful years here on A Scary Journey.  Once again, I thank you for sticking around.  Happy New Year everyone!

Cheers!

National Thank You Note Day

  As I always say (and write), people love getting handwritten letters and notes in the mail.  It's always the first thing someone reads when they bring in the mail.  I would rather read a letter from a friend or family member before diving into a pile of bills. 

Sure, it's easy to send off an email or a quick text to thank Aunt Sally for the ugly Christmas sweater.  Aunt Sally would much rather receive a nice handwritten Thank You note in the mail from you.

Today is National Thank You Note Day! 

I'm unable to find out how or why this day was started.  Some say it was created because of all the presents people received on Christmas Day.  I, on the other hand, believe it was started by my Mother, The Queen of Thank You Note writing.

I remember being called down to the kitchen a couple days after Christmas.  On the table there were three place settings.  At each spot there was a sheet of paper with list of names and gifts that they gave us, and a pen.  In the center of the table there was a stack of Thank You note cards, stamps and an address book.  You had to find your spot at the table.  The rules?  Write a Thank You note to everyone on the list, address and stamp the envelope.  Oh, and you can't leave the table until you are finished.

My Mom never taught us how to write a Thank You note.  My brothers would hurry up and scribble some stuff and leave the table.  I would be stuck there for hours asking my relatives how their pet is doing and trying to figure out how to nicely thank someone for the gift they gave me (how do you thank someone for money?).

If you do participate today, and I hope you will, you can use #NationalThankYouNoteDay on social media.

If you need any tips on Thank You Note writing, I'd love to help, especially if you want to know how the family dog is getting along.

Don't worry, Mom, I already wrote my Thank You notes this year!

Merry Christmas!

  "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, Peace, goodwill toward men!"  Luke 2:8-14

We have plenty of time

 There are two types of people in the world.  Those that like to get stuff done as soon as possible and those that like to wait until the last minute.  Sometimes these two people marry each other.

I am a person that likes to get things done ahead of time.  It started in school.  When I was given an assignment that was due in a few weeks, I got started right away.  I mean, if I'm not busy doing other homework and studying for tests, why not work on and finish that project now?  The same goes for other tasks in life, like, well, things like Christmas shopping.  I like to have that peace of mind as it gets closer to the holiday that I have things under control.

Christmas shopping can be done throughout the year.  You can be an over achiever and start your Christmas shopping the day after Christmas.   Some people start their shopping in July or August.  They don't like having anything hanging over their head.   I'm not that crazy, but, if I do see an item that I know someone might like, I will purchase it or put it on my list.  Yes, I am one of those crazy people that have a list that I keep on my phone.  I try to remember to update it when people mention a gadget or a book that they would like to read.  

Whenever the holiday approaches, I am the one that gets nervous that the shopping isn't done.  I was saying this last week.  I mentioned to RT that Christmas was a week away.  I don't think he has that sense of time in his head because he brushed it off by saying that it was more than a week and that "we have plenty of time."

It's Christmas Eve and guess who is running out to the store?

Are you a last minute shopper?

Christmas Crafts and Holiday Gifts

 It's that crazy time of year again!  

Snow.  Holiday Parties.  Snow.  Crafts.  Gifts.  Gift wrapping.  Snow.  Cookie making.  Hot Chocolate.  Sledding.  And, more snow!


I thought I would make your life a little easier and put some links up from my blog to some easy Holiday Crafts and Gifts that you can make yourself, with kids or even a Girl Scout Troop.

Here we go:

Christmas
Animal Ornaments 
Brazilian Holiday Flower  (great children's craft)
Candy Cane Sleigh 
Christmas Cards and tags
Felt Heart Ornament 
Foam Gingerbread House  (children's craft)
Foam Ornament Gift Tag 
Jingle Bell Bracelet (children's craft)
Mitten Gift Tags 
Mosaic Christmas Tree (children's craft)
Picture Frame
Snowman Ornament 
Stocking (out of construction paper) (children's craft)
Winter Scene (children's craft)
Snowman Ornament
Snowman Winter Craft (children and adult craft)
Ugly Christmas Sweater Felt Banner


Gifts
Homemade Bubbles
Bath Bombs
Laundry Detergent (powder)
Homemade Hair Detangler
Homemade Liquid Hand Soap
Homemade Lip Balm
Homemade Lotion


Miscellaneous Crafts/Gifts
Bangle Bracelet (wrapped)
Blank Books 
Bubbles (homemade)
Book Mark
Bottle cap necklace
Cork Board using Old Picture Frame
Decorative Wrapping Paper 
Dryer Balls
Fun Scrapbooks
Gift Box
Paint Chip Monthly Calendar
Pumpkin Soap Recipe
Twine Napkin Holders 
Note cards  
Homemade Sidewalk Paint 
Sit upon (a cushion to sit on)
Wrapped Bangle Bracelet


Don't forget to make some cookies this season.  They go great with hot chocolate!  (Well, cookies go great with everything!)  Here are some links to cookies that appear on the blog:

Cookies:
Butterscotch Chip Cookies
Avocado Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Chocolate Chip Blondies (vegan)
Chocolate Chip Chokies (Mom's famous recipe)
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Deep Dish Cookie Pie

Icing for Sugar Cookies 
M & M Cookies
Nutella Cookies 1
Nutella Cookies 2
Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut Butter Raisin Bran Cookies

Pfeffernusse Cookies
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Pudding Cookies

If you make some sugar cookies, make sure to check this out for an easy Sugar Cookie Icing recipe.

My favorite cookies are the pumpkin cookies, M & M cookies and of course the Pfeffernusse Cookies.  

Black Friday

  It's Black Friday!  Time to exercise your credit cards -  Push them to the limit folks!  And, get in a big workout trying to snag that big screen TV before someone else grabs it.

Oh, yea, and it's also time for my world famous  usual Black Friday post.  

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and it is the biggest shopping day of the year.  For retailers, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. 

For those of us that are out there working on Black Friday, it's a crazy, long and tiring day.  Make sure you take those vitamins, drink lots of water, plaster a smile on your face and, well, just try to have some fun.

If you are out there shopping, it can get crazy, so, try to be safe.  Also, be nice to the store employees.  They don't make the rules or have any control over the amount of inventory the store has of that item you want to purchase.  So, go easy on them!

I'm not exactly sure how the day will go with the supply chain issues.  Some of the items that you want might still be on a ship, so, this should be interesting.

And now, what everyone has been waiting for, here is my famous Black Friday song playlist for your  listening pleasure:

Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
Back in Black - AC/DC
Black Cat - Janet Jackson
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Black or White - Michael Jackson
Black Widow - Iggy Azalea
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Black - Pearl Jam
Blackbird - The Beatles
Black Betty - Ram Jam
Black Gold - Soul Asylum
Men in Black 3 Back in Time - Pitbull
Black Night - Deep Purple
Black Rain - Soundgarden
The Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Black Velvet - Alannah Miles
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Men in Black - Will Smith

Blue on Black - Five Finger Death Punch

Now get out there and have some fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

  In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast.  They invited the great Indian chief, Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food.  Governor Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests.  Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this;

"We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land.  We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

Linus Van Pelt
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

National Espresso Day

 This is it!  The day that my brother  everyone has patiently been waiting to celebrate....

 Happy National Espresso Day everyone!

What's the difference between espresso and plain coffee?  According to the professionals (the baristas), it doesn't matter what kind of bean you use (or how it was roasted) it's all how the beans are brewed.   How do you make espresso?  By forcing pressurized water through these finely ground coffee beans, it produces a concentrated brew with a delicate foam or crema.

The word espresso in Italian means "quick in time."   In the late 1800's, the espresso was made to order by using freshly ground roasted coffee beans and was freshly brewed right before serving.  The first espresso machine was invented in 1901 by the Italian inventor, Luigi Bezzera.  This machine produced a smaller, more concentrated cup of espresso than the traditional coffee brewing methods.  I'm sure RT is quite thankful for this invention.

Not an espresso or coffee drinker?

How about adding some espresso powder to your next batch of cookies?  The espresso powder can give your baked goods a tasty mocha flavor twist.

How about adding a shot of hot espresso to a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream?   Sounds strange but it's an Italian dessert called affogato.

Maybe you're more into latte's?  Why don't you try adding an espresso shot (or two) to your latte today.

Or, what about eating a chocolate espresso bean?  

Why do we love National Espresso Day?  It's a great way to wake you up!  A single shot of espresso can perk up the slowest morning person.  A few shots of espresso, and imagine all of the things you can get done today!?  Just ask RT, who is celebrating today and is probably on his fourth espresso right now.

How to observe the day?  Enjoy a shot of espresso and post it on social media using #NationalEspressoDay on your posts/photos.

Or, you can be like me.  Eat a handful of chocolate covered espresso beans and watching RT as he shakes from all of the caffeine he's had today.

Karen Stories

 Time for some more retail entertainment  Karen Stories.  This is where I get to share some of the weird  scary  strange  odd  interesting stories from my awful  frightening  fun retail job.

Today we start off with a customer asking an odd question.  I know, I know.  There are no stupid questions.  But, what do you say when someone asks you,  "Do your dressing rooms work?"  I wasn't exactly sure how I should respond to this question.  Is it a trick question, like the ones you use when you prank call someone, "Is your refrigerator running?  Better go catch it!"  ha ha ha.  Or is this question coming from a labor group wanting to know if the dressing rooms are showing up and performing their job?  Maybe the dressing rooms are going to form a union?  Do you see how this can be a little confusing?

I answered the phone at work the other day.  The caller was looking for children's snow pants.  I explained that we had quite the selection on the floor.  He told me that he would come in and have a little "looky loo."  

Let's not forget about my credit card inquiries.  We are told to ask customers to sign up with the company credit card.  Nothing like asking someone if they would like to add some debt to their life.  I don't get many people who willingly sign up for the card.  I get quite a few "No" answers.  Some are short and sweet and others a little rude.  The perk of signing up for the card is you can save money on that day's purchase.  When a customer has a large purchase, I do ask and let them know their savings for that order.  One day I asked a customer to sign up, the husband's response was, "We're not credit card people."  When I gave them the total dollar amount for their order, the wife whips out her credit card to pay the bill.  

And, one more story to let you know that retail people have a sense of humor.

My coworker realized that she was going to be sole cashier after I left for the day.  She asked me to cover the register while she takes a quick bathroom break.  Unfortunately we had a real long line of customers.  My coworker was getting uncomfortable and the line was getting longer.  I suggested she call up a back up and have him take her place.  When the back up appears, the line was gone and my coworker tells him, "I have to pee."  Without missing a beat he says, "I'm so glad that you called me up here to tell me that information."  

National Homemade Bread Day

 Today is National Homemade Bread Day.  It's a great day to make a loaf of your famous homemade sourdough bread and give it to your favorite sister.  

This day was created to encourage families to come together and enjoy making homemade bread.  It has been celebrated since the early 1980's.  Making bread is a great way to slow down and spend time with one another as we knead the bread dough, wait for it to rise or bake in the oven. 

There are many varieties of breads you can make today.  From Sourdough, rye, wheat, white and cheddar jalapeno.  To sweet breads, pretzels, buns, muffins, donuts and biscuits.  

Now is the time to brush off those breadmaking skills you learned during the pandemic quarantine and put them to good use.  Bake a loaf of bread and give to your sister  your friends and or neighbors.  Make a loaf or two just for you and your family to enjoy.   Don't forget to snap a few pictures for social media using #HomemadeBreadDay 

What kind of bread will you make today?

World Kindness Day

 World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was started back in 1998.  It is a day dedicated to large and small acts of kindness to bring us all together.  The World Kindness Movement states that the purpose of this day is to "highlight good deeds in the community" and to focus "on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know that I'm BIG on Kindness and  have many posts dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness.  It's great that we have a day dedicated to Kindness and being kind to one another.  I just don't understand why we can't do this everyday?  This should be a normal, daily thing for all of us.  There really is no reason not to be kind.

Did you know that people who are constantly kind produce less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the rest of the population?  Another reason to be kind to others!

How can you celebrate World Kindness Day?

Do three Random Acts of Kindness today.  

Smile at someone, give compliments, hold the door open for someone.

Hug your loved ones and friends.

Write a love poem to yourself and read it aloud.  (You should be kind to yourself today, too)

If you need some other ideas, you can find more on this post or you can search "kindness" on the blog.

Here are some Ways to make Kindness a norm in your everyday life, taken from Randomactsofkindness.org :

1.  Send an uplifting text to a friend
2.  Let that car merge in front of you with a smile and a wave.
3.  Go out of your way once a day to make someone smile
4.  Compliment a friend or coworker
5.  Reach out to a family member you haven't spoken to in awhile
6.  Treat someone to a cup of coffee or tea (friend, coworker, stranger or even yourself)
7.  Add intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight to your everyday routine

Don't forget to post your support of kindness on social media today by using #worldkindnessday

Have fun today!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

 I received a request for my Red Velvet Cupcakes from the birthday child.  The problem?  I could not remember where I placed the recipe.  I searched high and low until I finally stumbled upon the recipe (stuffed away in a recipe box that never sees the light of day).   I decided that it was time to put this famous recipe on the blog so I can find it when I need it.

If you are looking for an easy, delicious cupcake recipe, then check this one out.  No odd or unusual ingredients and very easy to make a batch.  The addition of the chocolate chips at the end makes them extra tasty.

This recipe has not been veganized.  I will work on that at a later time and update you with the results.

Here is the recipe:

Red Velvet Cupcakes

ingredients:

1 1/4 cups flour

2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla

2 TBSP red food coloring

3/4 cup low fat buttermilk

1/2 c butter, room temp

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp white distilled vinegar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Easy Frosting ingredients:

1/2 cup (vegan)  butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 TBSP non-dairy milk

For the cupcakes:

Oven 350F.

Line muffin pan and set aside.

Whisk together flour and cocoa powder and set aside.

In a glass measuring cup, add vanilla to buttermilk.  Mix.  Add in the red food coloring.  Mix and set aside.

Whip butter until soft.  Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Put eggs in one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  

Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk until just blended.

In a small cup, combine vinegar and baking soda, then add to the batter.  Add chocolate chips.

Put batter in muffin cups.  

Bake for 15-18 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean).

Let Cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

Cream the butter until it appears whipped.  

Add powdered sugar, vanilla and non dairy milk.

Mix until frosting is light and fluffy.

Frost completely cooled cupcakes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*I use vegan butter when making these cupcakes.

*If you do not have buttermilk on hand, it's pretty easy to make.  Mix together I TBSP of white vinegar and 1 cup of milk.  I used oat milk for this recipe and it worked perfectly.

*I used 1/2 cup sugar and you could not tell the difference.

*The frosting recipe is vegan.  I'm sure it will work the same if you use regular butter.

If you try making the Red Velvet Cupcakes, let me know what you think in the comments.

Enjoy!

National Harvey Wallbanger Day

  Happy Harvey Wallbanger Day!

I wanted to make sure that everyone out there is celebrating today with me.  Of course, I'm starting early this morning, so I might be a few drinks ahead of you.

A Harvey Wallbanger is a fruity cocktail made with vodka, Galliano and orange juice.    It's basically a screw driver, but, a little fruitier.  Galliano is an Italian liqueur that contains Juniper, Anise, Mint and Vanilla.  If you are unable to locate Galliano, you can always substitute Kahlua, Triple Sec or peppermint Schnapps. 

Harvey Wallbangers originated in the sixties.  The story behind the drink goes something like this:  A bartender named Donato Antone created the drink and served it at a party.  The one person remaining after the party, Harvey, was banging his head against the wall.  There are a couple other stories floating around, but, I like that one the best.  The drink made it's debut to the rest of the world in 1968.  Galliano used Harvey in their marketing campaign in 1969 with, "Harvey Wallbanger is the name and I can be made."  The drink's name also became a metaphor to describe someone who goofs off or makes mistakes.  Harvey Wallbanger was also a frequent write in vote during elections.  

How can you observe Harvey Wallbanger Day?  Meet your friends at your local hang out and order a Harvey Wallbanger and toast good ol' Harvey (just don't be the one banging your head on the wall at the end of the night).  You can use #HarveyWallbangerDay when posting on social media.

How to make the perfect Harvey Wallbanger? 

1.5 oz Vodka
4 oz Orange juice
.5oz Galliano
cherry or orange slice for garnish

Mix vodka and orange juice.  Pour Galliano on top and don't mix it in the drink (you can pour over a spoon).  Garnish with a cherry or orange slice and serve.

Cheers!

Belly Ache Day

 Another Halloween has come and gone.  How much candy did you eat?

My Dad always called the day after Halloween, "Belly Ache Day."  The belly ache came from eating too much candy the day before (Halloween).  I never suffered on Belly Ache Day.  I was allowed a few pieces of candy on Halloween, and then the rest of my candy was squirreled away by my Mom.  Never to be seen again.  I think she probably threw it all in the garbage.  (Thanks, Mom)

If you have some energy and are looking for some ways to use up that Halloween candy (besides hiding it or throwing it away), check out my recipe for Halloween cupcakes.  You can make a few batches and give them out to the neighbors.   You can always donate some candy to a food pantry or bring candy to a nursing home (the seniors love getting the candy as a bingo prize!).

Here's hoping that you aren't suffering too much on this Belly Ache Day!

Happy Halloween!

 "Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere.  He's gotta pick this one.  He's got to.  I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one.  You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy.  Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see. "  -  Linus van Pelt

My Weird Dog - Gets High

 A few posts back I wrote about my weird dog  Pippen and his pine needles  vacation.  If you recall, I mentioned his car anxiety problem and how enjoyable it was to have him in my back seat.  We decided to take another road trip (with Pippen).  I said I was not getting into the car with a weird  nervous dog for four hours, so I had to find a solution.

After talking to several dog owners, I purchased some CBD (for dogs).  On the way out for vacation, we put the CBD on some bread.  The bottle said it takes about 30 minutes to kick in.  Well, that was a lie.  We dealt with heavy panting for the majority of the ride.  I think Pippen finally calmed down the last half hour.

I was thinking about the return ride home the entire week and how I could make it go smoother.  (Maybe hitch a ride with someone else?)   You know, less heavy breathing.  I decided to put the CBD directly into Pippen's mouth and see how that works.  

Yes.  That's how CBD oil works.  I'm not sure why we put it on food.  And, prying open Pippen's mouth is a story in itself.  I was successful, with help from Bella.  I do have to say that this time I gave him more than his first dose.

I did not realize how quickly it would kick in.  Pippen sat up facing the back of the car and stared out the window.  He looked over at Bella and she said to lay down.  He fell towards her and didn't move for awhile.  I thought I might have killed my dog  help my dog to OD.  He was still breathing and he was very calm on the drive back home.  He did sit up and stare at Bella's shoulder for 10 minutes.  

I think he is looking forward to his next trip.

Student Driver

 We have a student driver in the house and we also have the car magnet to prove it.

We have survived two other student drivers without a magnet on the back of the car.  The magnet tells the world that there is a student driver and to please be patient.  One of our neighbors gave it to us and I thought I would try it out on vacation since it was a long drive and the student would be doing the majority of the driving.  I thought this would be a great idea.  Why not let other drivers know so they don't get road rage?

All was going well until we turned onto the expressway ramp.  We had a tail gaiter who sped by us once he had the chance.  I noticed that the drivers in Illinois are not as patient with student drivers as other states.  When we finally made it into Michigan, we had drivers who, as they were passing our car, smiled at us.  There was no road rage or aggression.

The other day, Bella was driving us home from the library.  She was trying to turn right onto a busy street and was doing great until "Mr. Impatient" pulled up behind us.  "Mr. Impatient" used this opportunity to honk his horn until Bella made her right turn.  Luckily, Bella isn't phased by any of the bad driving behaviors of others and turned when it was safe.

I keep the magnet on my car at all times.  I enjoy the reactions from the other drivers.  I drive the speed limit (most of the time) and obey traffic laws and still get the road rage and the honkers.

Do you respect cars with the "Student Driver" magnet or Do you show the student driver how not to behave on the road?

Rare American Collections and Sports Memorabilia

 With the holiday season soon approaching, it's time to start thinking about what gifts to get each of my loved ones.  RT has got to be the most difficult person to buy a gift for   It's difficult to find that perfect present for RT.   Ask him to give you some ideas and you will get,  “I’ll be happy with whatever you get me.”    So I usually end up buying a bag of chocolate, a couple of chocolate bars and some fancy cheese. 

This year, I wanted to steer away from the food (we don't need an expanding waist band) and do something different.  RT has a collection of sports memorabilia, including some autographed jerseys and photographs.  Maybe I could get him a special item to add to his collection?  I did a little investigation.  Over dinner (and a few drinks) I asked him about the memorabilia he currently has, about his favorite team and players and which players and what items he might want to add to his collection.  It may have seemed out of the blue to him.  It's early so I don't think I gave away my plan of buying him a Christmas present.

RT likes our local Chicago teams:  Bears, Bulls and Cubs (good thing, since we live here).  Oh, and anything from the Chicago Bears Super Bowl Team of 1985.  He was looking for some autographed photos of the lesser known players, like Gary Fencik.  I have to stay within budget an I know how some of this autographed sports merchandise can get very expensive.  I did a quick little Google search and found this sports memorabilia website called Rare American Collections.  They had exactly what I was looking for and more!  They hgave a wonderful selection of autographed football photos and jerseys, including several autographed photos of Gary Fencik.  And, the prices were very reasonable.  They also have some really helpful information about what to look for when buying autographed memorabilia including how to make sure that the signature is authentic (and not a fake). 

I'm so glad Rare American Collections had such a great selection.  I can now cross RT off my gift list.  OK, maybe after I buy him some chocolate.

Do you have any sports fans on your Christmas list?  Check out Rare American Collections for some great gift ideas!

Too Sexy

 I'm too sexy for my love

Too sexy for my love

Love's going to leave me

I believe the saying is, "Dress to Impress."  This is great to follow when you are headed out for a date or an interview where you want to make a good first impression.

I'm too sexy for my shirt 

Too sexy for my shirt

So sexy it hurts.

I think you know where this conversation is heading.

RT walked by wearing his usual uniform.  Shirt, shorts, long black socks and shoes.  The socks don't quite reach the knee (Thank God!).  I made the comment that the long socks and shoes are quite a sexy look and, " Maybe I should write a blog post?"

I'm too sexy for my socks

Too sexy for my socks

At least they aren't Crocs.

I would post a picture but, I wasn't getting good vibes from him.

Luckily we are heading into cooler weather and long pants and RT won't be exposing everyone to all of that sexiness.

And I'm too sexy for this song

My Weird Dog - Vacation Edition

 My weird dog  Pippen went with us on vacation this summer.  Its been awhile since his last vacation down to the Smokey Mountains when he was three.  You might recall that ended in the ghetto van  my van dying and Pippen riding in it while it was towed (he has never recovered from that experience).

RT and Pippen headed up to Michigan together.  I asked RT to send me photos of Pippen enjoying his getaway.  This was cute until I get a phone call from RT,  "Tell your dog to get out of the car!"  There I am, at work, sweet talking my baby  dog trying to coax him out of the car.  Fortunately I was successful.

I guess I forgot to mention the reason Pippen was in the car.  Apparently he was loose (off leash/chain) and started wandering the neighborhood.  RT thinks that Pippen was trying to escape  find me.  

Pippen did enjoy his vacation (once I arrived).  He liked to be outside laying on top of the pine needles and hanging out in the closet under the stairs.  We started to call the closet, "Pippen's Room."  I think he has plans to redecorate.

I was the lucky one to drive Pippen home.  I'll set the scene.  It's 90F and my a/c doesn't work that great.  The ride back was much longer due to traffic and construction.  It was about 100F inside my car.  Someone  Pippen decided to pant (breathe heavily) in my back seat.  After 3 hours of dealing with the child  Pippen, I called RT, who was a few cars ahead of me.  At the rest area, Pippen hopped into RT's car and went to sleep.  Amazingly, my car cooled off.

I think Pippen enjoyed his vacation, but is happy to be home. 

National Handbag Day

 Today is National Handbag Day!  A day set aside for me to celebrate all of the time and headaches effort that I put into finding the perfect a new purse.  

Handbags come in many shapes and sizes.  They can be as small as an envelope or as large as a carry on suitcase.  Handbags also come in every solid color and a variety of prints like leopard, zebra and even stripes.  You can get a sparkly bag or a purse with rhinestones.  There is a handbag out there for everyone.

Whatever you call it... purse, pocketbook,  clutch, evening bag, case or pouch, handbags have been used for thousands of years.  The earliest bags were used to carry tools or gear.  Sometimes the user decorated them with beads.  And some  dyed the material to make the bag.

How do you celebrate National Handbag Day?  Wear your favorite handbag today, of course!  Or, use this day to buy a new handbag.  There are so many out there for you to choose!

 We all know that I celebrate this day because of my purse commitment issues.  If you need to read up on my scary purse stories, click  HERE, HERE and HERE .  They stories are quite entertaining.

I think today is going to be a good celebration.  I am happy to announce that I have added a few more purses to my collection.  I think I should probably start focusing on a new wallet to go with these purses (lots of prayers are going to be needed for that search).

Fall is Here!

  "Fall is here!  Fall is here!

It's my favorite time of year
Football games and falling leaves
I'll take mine with turkey please"

It's that time of year set aside to think about falling leaves and all things pumpkin!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin spiced latte, pumpkin potpourri, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies and just plain pumpkins.

Are you a pumpkin person?  A football person?  How about a Halloween person?

Well, it's time to get your craft on this fall and get into the Fall spirit!  I thought I would put  links to some of the Fall Halloween crafts and Costumes that I've blogged about in the past.  Some of these are great ideas to do with little kids and some are great to do with your Girl Scout Troop!


Halloween Crafts

Bat Pencil Cup  uses an empty can and construction paper

Extra Crafts - using construction paper, make owls, witch, ghosts and foam monsters

Mosaic Pumpkin - using paint chips

Mosaic Pumpkin - using construction paper

Owl - using construction paper

Pony Tail Craft - using ribbon (great for a Girl Scout Troop!)

Pumpkin and Ghost - using Popsicle sticks and paint

Pumpkin Magnet - using foam

Spider - using pipe cleaners and google eyes

SPIDER  using construction paper

Spider (under $1 craft)  using an egg carton, black paint and google eyes

Witche's Hat  uses foam and glitter glue

Pumpkin Soap


Have a party to go to and need a quick, easy Halloween costume?  Look no further! 

Costumes
Easy Halloween Costumes
Eye Candy Costume
Target Employee

It's also time to grab that apron and whip up some fall goodies!  Everybody loves pumpkin!  (well, at least I do!)

How about some Fall food ideas:

Vegetarian Chili
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Pie (from a Pumpkin)

Halloween Candy Dessert 

The Great Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins 

Hope this inspires you to get into the fall spirit!  I think I'll go make some pumpkin cookies.

Enjoy!

Tea

 I have discovered a really strong Cinnamon tea from Adagio Teas.  Hot Cinnamon tea is wonderful to sip during the chilly months.

Bring on Fall and Winter.  I'm ready!

Gesundheit

 We survived a quarantine.  We survived a pandemic.  We survived wearing masks everywhere.

During the entire mask phase, I was (and still am) afraid to sneeze in public.  I'm sure other people felt the same way.  I mean, sniffle, cough or sneeze and people give you a dirty look.  It doesn't matter that you are wearing a mask that is covering the germs.

I think my sternutaphobia (fear of sneezing) is making me have to sneeze.  The fear of sneezing into my mask might be worse than the actual fear of the sneeze itself.

I know that my sneezes are not related to COVID.  Dust, allergies and the Good Ol' Sun can bring on a sneeze for me.  It also wouldn't be so bad if my sneezes weren't so LOUD!!  (Visit The LOUD Sneeze for more information)

How do you feel about sneezing or coughing in public?

Grocery Store Music

 Have you noticed that the music they play in stores now is basically songs from the 80's?  There is nothing like doing a little grocery shopping to the tune of "Hungry Like the Wolf."  Which, when you think about it, it's perfect because I'm hungry and I have to buy some food!

Growing up the music played in stores was (I thought) just that, plain music.  Music without words.  Happy music is being played, but, not too fast where it will rush you out of the store.  The music is to get you to stay in the store longer and, hopefully, spend more money.  Using 80's music must be an appeal to a different generation, Generation X  (Bye, bye Boomers!).

I'm not sure if the songs that are being played are to get you to buy certain foods or are challenging you to push away from the cart and "Bust a Move"  do your best 80's inspired dance to the song.

I mean, play, "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and you remember that you signed up for that bake sale and need some flour and sugar.  

A little Michael Jackson's, "Beat It" and you remember to pick up some eggs.

Throw in "We Got the Beat," by the Go-Gos and you're asking for some 80's pop dancing or a friendly reminder to buy some beets.

"Red, Red Wine" by UB40 gives you a little nudge to pick up a bottle (or three) to go with Sunday's dinner.

Then "Push It" (Salt n Pepa) real good on up to the register.

The next time you are grocery shopping in store, stop and  "Walk Like an Egyptian"  listen to the background music.  Is the music, "Nasty?"  Or, does it make you want to stay in the store, "All Night Long?" 

Success!

I have unleashed my inner Martha Stewart!  I am proud to announce that I have successfully learned how to fold a fitted sheet.  It only took one try.  If you too would like to master the art of fitted sheet folding, you can check out YouTube for  some "How To" videos.  I can now check this one off my bucket list.  

Next up....napkin folding.

Feel The Burn

 My garden has been going a little crazy these last days of summer.  Well, mainly the peppers.  

RT will tell you how much he enjoys poblano peppers.  We added one more plant this year and now have a total of three poblano plants in our garden.  We add these peppers to salsa and various dishes.  When there is an excess (which there usually is) I chop them and freeze them so they can be used in future recipes.  The only problem I run into is a bad burning sensation on my hands.   This isn't anything new for me.  I have the same experience when chopping jalapenos.  (Can you tell that I am the main pepper chopper in the house?)  I do have to remind myself not to touch any body parts.  

Yesterday, after chopping a dozen or so poblano peppers, my hand was burning.  I thought I would try one of the home remedies online to lessen the burn.  I was quite surprised that it worked.  

If you ever find yourself in this situation after chopping dozens of peppers, put some rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and wipe down your hand(s).  This removes the oils from the skin.  (do not soak your skin in the rubbing alcohol)  Then wash your hands using dish detergent.

A Scary Journey Inside My Life

 It all started with that first post.  You can read it here.

Today marks 10 long  frightening  scary  years for A Scary Journey Inside My Life.  Honestly, I didn't think it would last a year.  I told you early on that this journey was going to be scary.  I think I have made good on that promise.    

A few things have changed since that original post.  

My children are 10 years older

Newton is no longer with us

We don't sell security cameras 

We now have a weird dog named Pippen

Some things have stayed the same:

Still married to RT (poor lucky guy)

Still live in Illinois (hopefully my days in this state are numbered...)

My brain is still living in Zihuatanejo

There are lots of inner workings in my brain, many gears going and some at the same time.  And of course, there is a lot going on in my life.

Oh, yea, and, My Life is still scary.

Who knew that my family would provide so much entertainment many stories?

You can thank RT for giving me that push to start this blog.  Little does he know, he has provided quite a few stories.  (No, he still isn't allowed to read the posts)

If you have been here since the beginning, you are a saint   I'm sorry   God Bless You!  thank you for putting up with me and my craziness all of these years.  If you have just joined the journey,  RUN   hang on tight.  This crazy  scary ride is not over yet!

Who is in for another 10???!  

Cheers!

Rice Krispy Treats

 As I was cleaning out my pantry I noticed that I had a million  several bags of marshmallows.  OK.  Four bags, to be exact.  

Now, I know what you are thinking.  "Why would she have so many bags of marshmallows?"  I honestly don't have a real good answer for you.

I purchased marshmallows for  Girl Scout meetings.  We have to meet outdoors and we always serve hot chocolate.  Does that require four bags of marshmallows for six girls?  Probably not.

An intervention was needed.  I decided that we would use them to make Rice Krispy Treats.  

Now for the problem.

In that sentence I used the word "we" which, to me, translates to "Bella."  

Give me a recipe and I can probably make it.  Ask me to make Rice Krispy Treats and, well, chaos ensues.  Apparently I was quite entertaining during the entire treat making process

I followed the recipe on the box and the treats did not set.  They were edible but they turned out a little chewier than normal Rice Krispy treats.  My family has been making fun of me so I am determined to master the art of the Rice Krispy Treat.  

I might need to buy some more marshmallows.

Things To Do at 4am

 I thought I would make a little list of things that you can do at 4 am.   You know, in case you ever find yourself in a situation where you are awake at 4am and don't have a clue what you could or should be doing at that time.

Here we go:

Sleep

Think about sleep

Try to sleep

Make a mental grocery list

Sleep

Write a blog post in your head

Try to sleep

Sleep

Make a lunch for your child*

Sleep

Sleep

Try to sleep

Sleep

I hope this list helps.

*So, I promised the child that I would make her a lunch for school.  She normally makes her own lunch but was having a rough evening.  I, of course, forgot to make the lunch.  Luckily I remembered at 4am.  I was about to roll over and sleep and hope that I wake up at 6 to make the lunch but realized that, with my luck, I would probably sleep through that time and miss my opportunity, resulting in tears  a bad day.  You will be happy to know that I made an awesome lunch.  Oh yea, and I was wide awake after my lunch making excursion.

Have a Great Day Today

 I went on my morning walk today and received the best encouraging words.  I passed by a group of young kids on a trampoline.  I think it was an older sister with her two younger brothers.  As soon as I walked by, the girl stands up and says, "Good Morning, Ma'am.  I hope you have a great day today."  I thanked her and wished her the same happiness for the day.  Nothing like some upbeat, happy and encouraging words in the morning.

I thought I would spread the love and say, I hope you have a great day today!

National Ampersand Day

 Did you know that the ampersand was the last letter of the alphabet?

The ampersand is a combination of the letters e and t and means and in Latin

The plus sign is actually an ampersand.

It's great to use when taking notes.

It has also been used in decor, art and company logos.  

Want to impress friends with your knowledge of ampersands?  Click here and check out amperart.com and get some more fun facts about the ampersand.

I always found it difficult to draw the typical ampersand and opted for the plus sign.

How to celebrate today?

Practice drawing/writing ampersands today.

Use lots of ampersands today.

Send your friends who have the letters 'and' in their name a note.  For example, &rew, &rea, Alex&er.  You get the idea.

Post your best ampersand on social media with #nationalampersandday 

National Another Look Unlimited Day

 The day after Labor Day is known as National Another Look Unlimited Day.  This day is set aside to look around your house and purge things that you have accumulated.  Think of it as a Fall cleaning.  

It's time to go through the attic, garage, basement and closets and get rid of things that you don't need anymore.  Tidy up the items that you decide to keep and put them to use.  

If the items you are purging are useable, consider donating them so someone else can give them a new life and purpose.

I will be doing my part by cleaning out my garage and basement from the items that somehow made it into our house (a special thanks to my relatives).

How will you be participating today? 

National Thrift Shop Day

Hey, Mackelmore, can we go thrift shopping?

It's National Thrift shop day so get ready to shop some bargains! 

A thrift store, also known as a resale shop, consignment store or charity shop, can be found in most towns.  Items are donated to the stores and the staff stocks the stores with these donations.  By shopping at a thrift store, you are able to save money and find some hidden treasures (like vintage and unusual clothing).  For some it's not just about saving money, it's about the thrill of finding unusual items.  

While thrifting helps the budget, it also helps the environment by preventing these items from ending up in a landfill. 

 I'm gonna pop some tags 

only got $20 in my pocket

I'm a hunting

looking for a come up

This is .....awesome!

How can you observe the day?

If you have items at home that are not being used, pack them up and bring them to a thrift store or donation center.   This is a great way to clean up your home and give your items a second chance by not going into a landfill.

Check out some thrift stores/ resale stores in your area.  Bring a friend along and make a day of it.

Oh, and of course, playing Thrift Shop by Mackelmore is a must today.

How will you participate today?

National Tell a Joke Day

 Today is National Tell a Joke Day.  A day to laugh, celebrate, have fun and enjoy.  Join in on the fun today by telling your favorite joke.  

I thought I would get you started by telling you a few joke.  

Here we go:  

How does Jesus Make tea?     Hebrews it.

What does the green grape say to the purple grape?     BREATHE!

How many South Americans does it take to change a lightbulb?      Brazilians.

How do you make a tissue dance?     Put a little boogie in it.

Why is Peter Pan always flying?      He Neverlands.

Why can't you trust atoms?      They make up everything.

How do you make Holy Water?     You boil the hell out of it.

What is Forrest Gump's password?       1Forrest1

Tell me your favorite joke in the comments below.

Are you an even or an odd?

A number is an arithmetical value that can be expressed by a word, symbol or figure that represents a certain quantity.  It is used in counting, making calculations and to show order in a series for identification.

We use numbers every day.  There are numbers on a clock, price tag, recipe, keyboard, phone (when you have to actually dial a phone number), calendar, gasoline/diesel prices, bank balance and your age.  The list goes on and on.

As you get older, your age is easily forgotten.  You don't tell everyone how old you are or how old you will be on your next birthday.  Well, maybe some of you do.  When your birthday rolls around, you do a little math and the result is your current age. 

Every year, on my birthday to be exact, I reflect on my age.  Not about how old I am, just the actual number.  I notice that I have a much more positive feeling when my age is an odd number.  A little research led me to a study that stated that even numbers can be boring while odd numbers can be "slippery, uneasy and exciting."   Maybe that odd number for my age sets the tone for the upcoming year?

Do you have any feelings towards even or odd numbers when it comes to your age?

National Underwear Day

 Today is National Underwear Day!  A day that is used to honor the most intimate piece of apparel that many of us wear.  Originally celebrated to focus on emphasizing positive body image to women, men willingly joined in on the movement.

Underwear was originally meant to protect clothing from sweat stains.  Included on this celebration are corsets, bustiers, boxers, sports bras and briefs.  If you wear it under your clothes, then it is a garment to be proud of!

How to celebrate today:

Clean out your underwear drawer.  Throw out anything you wouldn't want to be seen if you were in a car accident (Mom advice).

Purchase some new underwear.  I think underwear is the last thing people think about when they update their wardrobe.  When was the last time you bought yourself some new undies?

Have a movie night!  Put on  "Risky Business" and watch Tom Cruise dance in his underwear.  

Read about the history of underwear in, "Unmentionables: A Brief History of Underwear," by, Elaine Benson.

If you are feeling bold and have the courage to wear them out publicly, you can have a friend take (tasteful) pictures of you.

And, of course, you can always just parade around (inside) your house in your underwear.

How will you celebrate today?

Toaster

 Our toaster oven finally kicked the bucket.  Well, it was going down hill for quite awhile.  We got fed up with only part of the bread getting toasted.  That eventually turned in to a lot of burnt toast.  

I can't comment on the burnt toast problem.  Whenever I try to make toast, I burn it.  Everyone in the family knows my reputation and refuse to let me make them toast.  I prefer the bread to be toasted.  You know, crunchy, not bread-y.  My family does not share my taste when it comes to toast.

Our new toaster oven arrived and I was the first one to try it out.  Probably a mistake because the new toaster oven almost burnt my toast! works.  Toasting the bread a lot faster than the old machine.  I almost burnt my toast!  

I might need a lot more practice so let me know if I can make you a piece of toast.

*want to read up on my famous toast burning?  Click here, here, here and here.  I didn't realize how much I post about my toast making abilities.  I think I will start doing classes on How to Burn your Toast.  Stay tuned.

My Weird Dog - National Mutt Day

 In honor of National Mutt Day I thought I would talk a little about my weird dog  mutt  Pippen.

I mentioned awhile ago that Pippen has been enduring some tough times.  Unfortunately, our recent vacation added to his nightmare.  Per the babysitter dog sitter, Pippen was very sad. He didn't eat much food, hung his head and had an overall sadness about him.  I did call a couple of times and they put the phone by Pippen.  He heard my voice, cheered up a little and started eating his food.  When we returned from vacation, Pippen became my shadow.  He doesn't let me leave his sight for long.  If I don't return, he comes and finds me.

I do have to report that RT took Pippen to get a mani-pedi his nails clipped.  Nail clipping is not one of his favorite things to do.  Turns out, Pippen didn't fight it.  He jumped up on the counter and let them clip his nails.  He even walked past all of the scary little dogs that tried to attack nip at him. He didn't try to eat them  lunge toward them.  I think my child  dog is finally growing up.

Pippen will be joining us on our next vacation.  I'm sure there will be some interesting stories to tell.  Stay tuned.

Retail Problems

 Another dose of the retail life for you.  Sometimes you get to laugh at work.

At work, we have to wear walkie talkies.  It's great when you have a question.  Someone can chime in with a quick response.  Of course, there are times when you ask a question and the line goes dead.  Either your message didn't go through or no one has an answer.

One day a coworker was looking for a chair to use while doing markdowns.  Sometimes it's a lot easier to sit down when you have to scan a lot of items close to the ground.  Over the walkie talkie, she asked, "Has anyone seen the scooty chair?"  Apparently, she did not speak clearly and there was a reply, "Booty chair?  Aren't they all booty chairs?  You have to sit your booty down in the chair."  All of us had a good laugh.  When my coworker finally replied, she made sure to enunciate and say, "Scooty chair."  

On another day, we had a furry visitor in the store.  I'm sure I have mentioned that our store is dog friendly.  We get quite a few furry visitors during the week.  On this day, the "visitor" made a little mess.  The manager was not very happy about it.  Apparently this dog visits quite often and always does his business in the store.  The manager took to the walkie talkie and said that there is a "clean up" in the pet aisle and to bring paper towels, a bag and a mop.  She went on a rant and explained how this customer always brings her dog in when it clearly has to do it's business.  After her rant, another employee said, "So, Cocoa visited us and left us a little biscuit?"

Vacation Musings

This musing is brought to you by my recent get away.

Every time we go on vacation, the bathroom of our hotel room or vacation rental always ends up being a hot mess.  I'm never sure who is responsible for the disaster.  I would like to believe it is someone else coming in and using our bathroom.  I mean, do I really live with these sloppy messy people?   Who raised these kids?

What does the bathroom look like, you ask?  Do you remember the scene in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," where Steve Martin goes into the bathroom to take a shower after John Candy?  The bathroom floor is soaking wet.  All of the towels are used and in a pile. After his shower, he reaches for a towel to dry off and all that is left is a wash cloth.  Yea.  That's probably the best description.

Does your family like to destroy mess up the bathroom when you are on vacation?

What does your family do that makes you wonder how you are related on vacation that drives you crazy?

The Mosquito Whisperer

 Mosquitos, those pesky little insects that like to suck the fun out of summer.  Buzzing around your ears to announce their presence.  Or, those that prefer to make a sneak attack and you realize their itchy presence after your millionth  one hundreth bite.

Mosquitoes have got to be the most annoying thing about summer.  Well, extreme heat and humidity are quite bothersome for some of us.. Some people are more bothered by them than others.

We went on a little vacation that included a hike up the side of a mountain.  We had to get up really early to eat and get moving.  On this lovely hike, someone did not have mosquito repellant.  That "someone" is quite the feast for the little fellers.  "Someone Else" said the bugs would get better at a higher altitude.  That "someone" person was swatting at these guys the ENTIRE climb.  "Someone" came down from the mountain with millions a lot of bug bites.  (They bite through clothing.  And, they bite your scalp!)  RT I mean, "Someone else" did not get any bug bites.

"Someone else"  I mean, RT told me that I could be hired as a bug repellant at parties.     Hire me and I can stand in your yard and all of the mosquitoes will automatically come to me and not your or your guests.  He's always looking out for me.  You gotta love the guy.

I tried looking up what attracts mosquitoes and how to ward them off.  Apparently I have the blood type that attracts them (O).  Some say it's in your genes / hereditary.  If that is the case, well, my Dad was a huge attraction to mosquitoes.  Thanks a lot, Dad.  I heard that ammonia attracts them.  Not sure how this affects me since I'm 50% vinegar, 49.5% olive oil and .5% oregano.  Basically a Greek Salad.  I did learn that garlic helps keep them away (and everyone else for that matter)  I think I'm going to have to eat a lot more garlic.

Are you an attraction to mosquitoes?

Subtitles

 Subtitles: The text of dialogue, speeches, operas, etc.  Translated into another language and projected on the lower part of the screen.

I always thought subtitles were used for foreign films.  If you don't know the language, you can read the words.  Sometimes there are things that get lost in translation.  The subtitles will either try to summarize what is happening or ignore it by not putting anything there for you to read.  At that point, all you can do is hope it wasn't a key piece to the movie.

I was first introduced to the (frequent use) of subtitles while watching a movie with Nick and Bella.  I mentioned that the subtitles were on, as a reminder to turn them off and was told that they like using them while watching movies or TV shows.  Apparently this is a normal way to watch movies.  I found this fascinating.  Especially among a generation that is used to multi-tasking.  Think about it, they are on their phones and watching television (which is what one of my children was doing).  The whole concept of adding subtitles to the mix just baffles me.  Now, in addition to all of the other activities you have going on, let's add in some light reading.

Maybe it's just me, but, when the subtitles are on, I feel compelled to read them. I'm more focused on the words than actually listening and watching what is happening in a movie (or TV show).  I do have to say that subtitles do come in handy when the actor is a mumbler  you can't understand what the character (person) is saying.   That's a lot better than rewinding 100 times to try and figure out what was said.

How do you feel about subtitles?

Do you use subtitles when you watch television or movies?

Retail Problems

Some little ditties from my lovely job in retail.

There are many stories of my time as greeter.  My favorite is the guy who winked at me.  I'm not sure if there was something in his eye or if it was a nervous tic.  This guy walked in, behind his wife, and as he walked by he said hello and winked at me.  I found it odd and thought that it might have been a mistake, but, he winked at me again as he followed his wife out of the store.   A habit or is he a flirt?  

There was the time when this woman came in wearing dirty purple gloves.  She grabbed a cart and did some shopping.  Even made a purchase.  A few hours later I saw her enter the store to do an exchange.  She was still wearing the same dirty purple gloves.

My favorite story happened the other day.  I was ringing up a customer and gave her the total.  She reaches into her purse, starts digging around, moves away from the counter and then says (loudly), "I can't find my wallet.  SOMEBODY STOLE IT!"   I didn't know what to say.  I wasn't with her in the store and it looked like her bag was closed when she got up to the register.  How did someone steal her wallet without her knowing about it?  She steps toward the counter again and looks in her purse and calmly says, "Oh.  There it is"  and pulls the wallet out of her purse.  I almost burst out laughing and was quite grateful that I was wearing a face mask.  I wanted to know if she was related to RT* but didn't have the courage to ask.

*check out these posts for a backstory on people stealing RT's stuff : goggles, phone, hiking gloves.