As I have been reminded that my last post is dated quite some time ago and I have a few avid readers I will try to entertain both the “what’s happening in my life” people and the short story lovers. ; p
Last weekend I took a trip over to the other side. I started with a stop in Naches to get some gas. I pulled up and went to pay with a credit card so I wouldn’t have to go inside or pay the stupid fee. Well unlike most of the other credit card sliders this one doesn’t like it when you “remove rapidly”. It told me to head inside for assistance. I waited in line for my turn. Constantly trying to move out of the coca-cola delivery guy’s ways. A hard feat when the store there is small. In my attempt I said excuse me to the guy in front of me in line.
I got back in my little red rocket and headed down the road. A little ways, about a half hour, I was stopped in road construction. As I was jamming away to Taylor Swift I saw this guy hop out of his SUV behind me. He jogged forward holding a cd. I thought nothing of this and took a moment to enjoy the trees that were attempting to grow from a very steep hill. This man takes that moment to stop at my window, as he hesitated in tapping on my car, I rolled the window down for him. I know I gave him the strangest look and he responded with. “Hey, I just wanted to give this cd to you. I saw you at the gas station and thought you might like it but you left before I could give it to you.” He continues on when he realizes that I’m not going to roll the window back up. “My nephew is in a band, they just won a contest and are down recording in California.” He goes on about how great they are and that the band is just getting on its feet and how he was really sorry that he didn’t have a case for the cd he handed me.
He headed back to his car and the light turned green. The first song began. I thought “what was this guy smoking! It’s ‘earthy’….so not me!” Then the rap starts. :) No, I’m not much of a rap fan….but it’s good so I listen on and the song changes again.
I had just listened to song 6 or so when I noticed that he turned off. Somewhere around Packwood. I waved. I continued on listening to my new tunes, it’s kinda got this ‘old school’ feel, something from the 90’s but with a newer twist. Hard with soft edges. Smooth with some bite. A great cd that I never would have picked up. The cd you ask? Battlegrounds by Chase and the Reach. My favorite song, track 3, Devil’s own Daughter.
***Find our way up to the northern lights, I will storm those iron gates, and I will free you from your chains, just to hear you say my name….find our way up to the pearly gates, where we’ll make it even hotter….
My trip continued. I followed 12 to 5 to 4. 4 is beautiful. Amazing. A lot like the back roads back home, except this was paved better. :) From there I hit 101. Just as beautiful as 4. I then headed toward the coast on 109 to OceanShores…which happens to be under construction.
Having accomplished the purpose of my drive, to get away and unwind…ponder things in my life…and become stress-free, I turned and headed home. I stopped at Spiffy’s, where I-5 and 12 meet, listened to some new patrons complain about everything from the temperature to the prices and the salad bar….I hate people like that. I wanted to go over and tell them if they didn’t like it they could always leave!
I headed out and had a fairly easy drive. Had a deer/elk scare the crap out of me but that was about it.
Anyways, I think I’m done rambling about my trip. However I didn’t get to my short story….hopefully another night soon I will. Requests will be considered…
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Making a Difference
I went grocery shopping today. Since it was just a few things I walked to my corner store. I had noticed on my walk that there were two high school girls standing on the street with signs. Since I was walking I had my music tuned in and couldn’t hear their plea. Well, two hours later I am walking this same trek to get groceries. I find out that they aren’t trying to get you to stop in for a car wash or any other fundraiser for their benefit. They weren’t trying to get you to go to church or change your beliefs either. I still didn’t stop since I was cutting across the grass. I was greeted at the door anyway, which I half expected.
I was tentatively approached and ask if I wouldn’t mind taking a pamphlet on child hunger. The earnest looking teenager handed me an orange slip of paper. Upon my asking what it was that they were doing she responded by stating “We are just raising people’s awareness of child hunger.” I was perplexed that she didn’t just ask me to open my wallet so I asked again. What is it that you want?” She replied, “Nothing, we are just handing out information. If you’d like to donate anything would be welcome but it’s not why we are here.” She pointed to a girl they had put in a “cage” (a couple of 2x4’s housing a lawn chair).
I said thank you and that I would stop by after I was finished shopping. I hate trying to dig out change when there other shoppers zipping by. So I went in and shopped, reading the sheet they had given me while I waited in line. I got change from my purchase to give to the girls outside. I walked back out and while it was obvious the girl knew it was me she didn’t approach. I walked over to her and handed her the cash. “Told you I’d stop by,” I said.
She looked shocked and pleased. I could tell that these were the same girls that had been there at least 3 hours ago now. I surmised that most of the patrons that they approached did not actually return after having been stopped or had not given at entering. It made me glad that I had returned and given them something. It is hard enough to ask a community to help their school or church functions but to ask them to just be informed is another story. Hunger is an ugly truth that seems to get pushed under the rug and in these tight times some don’t remember that even a little goes a long way when there was none before.
I give props to the girls for not having called it quits, they believed in something enough to let others turn them down over and over. They believe that knowledge is power and in informing their community change can happen. The pamphlet that I had read while shopping even stated that the money donated is going to go to the community. Not one cent is leaving the area.
I don’t know about you but I don’t know many teenagers anymore that would take time out of their summer Saturday and get nothing (for themselves) in return. They were buoyant and optimistic. Making a positive difference, if not in someone else’s lives, in their own. It was great to know that that energy still exists in the younger generations yet, I had begun to doubt it.
I was tentatively approached and ask if I wouldn’t mind taking a pamphlet on child hunger. The earnest looking teenager handed me an orange slip of paper. Upon my asking what it was that they were doing she responded by stating “We are just raising people’s awareness of child hunger.” I was perplexed that she didn’t just ask me to open my wallet so I asked again. What is it that you want?” She replied, “Nothing, we are just handing out information. If you’d like to donate anything would be welcome but it’s not why we are here.” She pointed to a girl they had put in a “cage” (a couple of 2x4’s housing a lawn chair).
I said thank you and that I would stop by after I was finished shopping. I hate trying to dig out change when there other shoppers zipping by. So I went in and shopped, reading the sheet they had given me while I waited in line. I got change from my purchase to give to the girls outside. I walked back out and while it was obvious the girl knew it was me she didn’t approach. I walked over to her and handed her the cash. “Told you I’d stop by,” I said.
She looked shocked and pleased. I could tell that these were the same girls that had been there at least 3 hours ago now. I surmised that most of the patrons that they approached did not actually return after having been stopped or had not given at entering. It made me glad that I had returned and given them something. It is hard enough to ask a community to help their school or church functions but to ask them to just be informed is another story. Hunger is an ugly truth that seems to get pushed under the rug and in these tight times some don’t remember that even a little goes a long way when there was none before.
I give props to the girls for not having called it quits, they believed in something enough to let others turn them down over and over. They believe that knowledge is power and in informing their community change can happen. The pamphlet that I had read while shopping even stated that the money donated is going to go to the community. Not one cent is leaving the area.
I don’t know about you but I don’t know many teenagers anymore that would take time out of their summer Saturday and get nothing (for themselves) in return. They were buoyant and optimistic. Making a positive difference, if not in someone else’s lives, in their own. It was great to know that that energy still exists in the younger generations yet, I had begun to doubt it.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
A Wedding, A Golden Birthday & Green Trucks!
Since I have not blogged and given my 2 faithful readers anything to ponder in some time I will give 3 short stories that happened this last month (Today is Aug 1st : )).
Near the middle of July I hopped on a plane, or three, and headed to Wisconsin. There I got my now traditional welcome at the airport from TC. We hurried through the streets of Madison as our stomachs grumbled in anticipation of Uno’s Pizza and Long Islands! As always there was a wait at Uno’s, not that any of us minded when the bar was open and we could order there so that the food was ready when we had a table. While the checkered table clothes hadn’t changed all of the waitresses had. It was comforting to know that they still used the menus from when my brother was there in college.
After eating cheese bread and pizza with a chaser of long island we headed toward the bars. We dodged cars and started up the sidewalk toward our evening of memory lane. We headed toward Steve’s Pizza for poppers and mixed drinks. What we found was windows painted white and plywood, darkened and abandoned. Disappointed and sad we sat on a bench and contemplated the rest of our evening. In sour spirits we eventually headed to Second St to see what else had changed. After making a sweep of the street we head into Boondocks for a drink, not wanting to give up on the night. We were again shocked and dismayed by the stainless steel bar that had replaced the wooden one. There was also a tailgate of a truck along one wall. Only a few people lingered over drinks and darts on this lively Friday night. We sat and ordered, after having gotten our drinks we inquired as to when Steve’s Pizza had closed. “It didn’t close, it moved into the old mattress store at the top of Main.” Our moods boosted we quickly drank our drinks and headed toward our once favorite bar. Not only had the location of Steve’s changed but the look and clientele as well. Not for the better. The waitresses were rude and slow, the sleazy guys were annoying and the décor had a lot to be desired. No longer did it look like an Irish pub but a sleek modern pick up bar. We held out and ate poppers and a drink while playing trivia before heading back to the hotel.
The next day was the wedding for which I had flown to Wisconsin. I got to watch as the bride glided down the isle to the little gazebo and finally be married to the never changing groom. I’ve known these two for over 12 years, was there when the groom proposed….the reason for needing to stop by the college. He proposed under the oldest tree on campus. Lets just leave it with, It’s About Damn Time! :) The wedding went with much fanfare and well wishes. My gift was a great success, or so I’m told. Favorite restaurants will do that. :) Thanks again TC for picking that up for me!!!
My family was there but I’m not going to get into that. I refuse! Pleasant thoughts for this post, well, mostly. I ended this trip by getting stuck at my second airport for 2 hours. They said it was a mixture of their computers being down and a scheduling problem. Well, their scheduling problem caused me to miss my last plane, THE last plane of the day to my home. This meant that at 11:45 pm in Seattle as I waited for the free hotel shuttle to take me to comp’ed room I had to call my boss and tell them I was going to be late for work the next day. I left a very short message, and to my great surprise did not get any grief for the call. My guess is that my boss got that I was extremely upset and sincere with staying late to make up my time missed. I finally got to work at a 10:45 am the next day, not having been able to get fresh clothes since my bag somehow made it home before me…hum…..
Anyways, moving on. Happier times, My golden birthday was this month. No, I will not state what day that occurred on! :P After getting over the fact that I was now another year closer to thirty and working for the first time ever on my birthday it wasn’t so bad. Someone sent my flowers and a balloon. I got a gift certificate to a day spa (wow you say), my car windows tinted (yay), and dark chocolates (yum). I also received a few cards as well as many well wishes on facebooks. My mother being my mother though had to put my picture in the paper, now that I’ve lost some weight again so that I look “halfway decent”.
Finally, the sprinkles on top, the man in the green truck. Having gotten back from the wedding I had nothing in my apartment so I needed to hit the grocery store. It’s right around the corner so I walk instead of drive. I had decided to wear one of my new dresses that I had purchased in Wisconsin (the black one). Well, walking up my block with a bag in either hand this truck starts honking, and I start thinking “oh great, he’s going to come up to me and whistle”. How mature. Well, he doesn’t stop honking. As he has gotten closer I see that it’s a young guy with his baseball cap on backwards. Thinking that it is a guy from work (he drives a green truck) I wave back. After I wave he grins and I realize that it’s not my colleague at all. Just some cute random guy. : )
***I wanted her to say she couldn’t live without the life I had to offer….Out there, anywhere, she just up and left….
Near the middle of July I hopped on a plane, or three, and headed to Wisconsin. There I got my now traditional welcome at the airport from TC. We hurried through the streets of Madison as our stomachs grumbled in anticipation of Uno’s Pizza and Long Islands! As always there was a wait at Uno’s, not that any of us minded when the bar was open and we could order there so that the food was ready when we had a table. While the checkered table clothes hadn’t changed all of the waitresses had. It was comforting to know that they still used the menus from when my brother was there in college.
After eating cheese bread and pizza with a chaser of long island we headed toward the bars. We dodged cars and started up the sidewalk toward our evening of memory lane. We headed toward Steve’s Pizza for poppers and mixed drinks. What we found was windows painted white and plywood, darkened and abandoned. Disappointed and sad we sat on a bench and contemplated the rest of our evening. In sour spirits we eventually headed to Second St to see what else had changed. After making a sweep of the street we head into Boondocks for a drink, not wanting to give up on the night. We were again shocked and dismayed by the stainless steel bar that had replaced the wooden one. There was also a tailgate of a truck along one wall. Only a few people lingered over drinks and darts on this lively Friday night. We sat and ordered, after having gotten our drinks we inquired as to when Steve’s Pizza had closed. “It didn’t close, it moved into the old mattress store at the top of Main.” Our moods boosted we quickly drank our drinks and headed toward our once favorite bar. Not only had the location of Steve’s changed but the look and clientele as well. Not for the better. The waitresses were rude and slow, the sleazy guys were annoying and the décor had a lot to be desired. No longer did it look like an Irish pub but a sleek modern pick up bar. We held out and ate poppers and a drink while playing trivia before heading back to the hotel.
The next day was the wedding for which I had flown to Wisconsin. I got to watch as the bride glided down the isle to the little gazebo and finally be married to the never changing groom. I’ve known these two for over 12 years, was there when the groom proposed….the reason for needing to stop by the college. He proposed under the oldest tree on campus. Lets just leave it with, It’s About Damn Time! :) The wedding went with much fanfare and well wishes. My gift was a great success, or so I’m told. Favorite restaurants will do that. :) Thanks again TC for picking that up for me!!!
My family was there but I’m not going to get into that. I refuse! Pleasant thoughts for this post, well, mostly. I ended this trip by getting stuck at my second airport for 2 hours. They said it was a mixture of their computers being down and a scheduling problem. Well, their scheduling problem caused me to miss my last plane, THE last plane of the day to my home. This meant that at 11:45 pm in Seattle as I waited for the free hotel shuttle to take me to comp’ed room I had to call my boss and tell them I was going to be late for work the next day. I left a very short message, and to my great surprise did not get any grief for the call. My guess is that my boss got that I was extremely upset and sincere with staying late to make up my time missed. I finally got to work at a 10:45 am the next day, not having been able to get fresh clothes since my bag somehow made it home before me…hum…..
Anyways, moving on. Happier times, My golden birthday was this month. No, I will not state what day that occurred on! :P After getting over the fact that I was now another year closer to thirty and working for the first time ever on my birthday it wasn’t so bad. Someone sent my flowers and a balloon. I got a gift certificate to a day spa (wow you say), my car windows tinted (yay), and dark chocolates (yum). I also received a few cards as well as many well wishes on facebooks. My mother being my mother though had to put my picture in the paper, now that I’ve lost some weight again so that I look “halfway decent”.
Finally, the sprinkles on top, the man in the green truck. Having gotten back from the wedding I had nothing in my apartment so I needed to hit the grocery store. It’s right around the corner so I walk instead of drive. I had decided to wear one of my new dresses that I had purchased in Wisconsin (the black one). Well, walking up my block with a bag in either hand this truck starts honking, and I start thinking “oh great, he’s going to come up to me and whistle”. How mature. Well, he doesn’t stop honking. As he has gotten closer I see that it’s a young guy with his baseball cap on backwards. Thinking that it is a guy from work (he drives a green truck) I wave back. After I wave he grins and I realize that it’s not my colleague at all. Just some cute random guy. : )
***I wanted her to say she couldn’t live without the life I had to offer….Out there, anywhere, she just up and left….
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