Well, I know it has been a while since I have posted one of my "interminable" blogs, but I hope that you will indulge me as I write today about the Great Garage Sale that we held this past Saturday.
We kind of threw this together in a few days as I was unpacking from Gulf Wars. Needless to say, while the Gulf Wars laundry is (mostly) done (except for the cloaks which need to be Dryel-ed), the unpacking is not done because of this garage sale. I looked at the calendar and realized that not only was Easter upon us, but the Bridlewood community sale was coming up, and this is a great weekend for Garage Sales Extraordinary.
Bridlewood is this toney golf course community that is across from Wellington, the cheaper toney community that I live in. We bought the bigger house in Wellington as opposed to the smaller house in snobby Bridlewood (actually, given how snobby even Wellington is, I know we made the right choice). Bridlewood Elementary's PTA dues are three times what our PTA dues are. Our PTA offers constant programming, teacher grants, and even subsidizes class parties, so I can't imagine what their PTA offers that ours doesn't--maybe everyone gets a free pony or something.
Anyway, the Bridlewood sale is huge. Now, I don't actually go and shop because there are so many cars and pickups and flatbeds driving through the community at huge rates of speed that it is just downright dangerous. Plus, I don't need any more junk in my house. But it is a good opportunity to divert some traffic away from the sale and to our house.
I took all the really nice kids clothes that were left over from the spring Divine Consign sale to Once Upon a Child and got $59, then took my nice adult stuff (dressy clothes mostly) to a women's consignment shop, where they will be for 90 days. Fortunately I have now found one in the area (I used to live near one in Dallas). I should make a few bucks from this venture as well, maybe even about $200 or more since I did take 70 pieces (including jewelry). She takes 60% (ouch!) but it's better than I can get at a garage sale. Seriously.
So at our garage sale we had mostly men's casual clothes, a few ladies items that were too shabby for the consignment store, a few kids items that were too shabby for the consignment store, a few purses and accessories and old perfumes and bath products. I got my husband to sell some of his extra tools, drills and so forth, and we had a few housewares but not a lot since I didn't get through the whole kitchen in time.
We made $202 although we had a $4 item stolen and almost lost a brand new copy of High School Musical Extended Edition (duplicate) when a kid tried to run it to the car while I was heavily discounting the kids clothes his mom was buying (selling Gymboree for .50 to $1.00 really frosts me even when I know it's damaged!) We also had the city come through and take down three of our six signs, two of which belonged to a friend, and with it two of our candle lantern stakes were lost (which we reluctantly put on some signs at 2 am when we realized we didn't have anything to stake the signs down with).
But that is making $202 the HARD way, people. I told my husband, next time I will just try prostitution. It's not as much work and it's over faster. And I don't think I would have to haggle as much.
I priced everything at twice what I wanted and I still was amazed at the nerve of some people. I finally let some witch give me $5 for our sandbox turtle, because it was pretty beaten up and starting to crack, and I didn't want to haul it to consignment so I could get $7. But it still hacks me off. That's the Scot in me--I want to sell everything for top dollar. I will spend $50 for something I dont' need, but when I go to sell it I want $45. This is why I have so much crap in my house--because if I can't sell it for what it's worth, I don't want to sell it.
I don't mind when people are poor and want a good deal, but it irritates me when people are taking advantage of me, rich or poor. And that is the problem with garage sales around here--people take advantage. You know, I wouldn't be doing it if I couldn't use the cash, folks. I could be walking the dog and enjoying the beautiful weather, or at my crop that I didn't make it to until 2 pm. Spent too much at Gulf Wars. Need money for Scarborough Faire season. Don't have any other time to do a garage sale this spring.
My friend Lisa and I are going to try to do ANOTHER sale this Good Friday. Her kids were sick last week so she couldn't do it. The kids are off school this Friday but Robert has to work (although he will probably do so from home). In fact, he's on call, which I hope does not blow up in our faces since it's Easter Weekend and we also have Elfsea Defender and the Scarborough Faire dinner on Sunday afternoon. I had hoped to take the kids to the Arboretum but it's always so crowded on Good Friday (unless it rains, of course).
Besides, Lisa has an ebay store and she is really good at the retailing thing, so I want to see how she does a Garage Sale. Maybe I can pick up some pointers.
OK, have to run. The nurse just called. Amelia vomited at school so now she has to come home. It's a good thing I don't have a real job.
Pleasant Valley Mom (dreading going to school--did not shower yet)
Showing posts with label Gulf Wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gulf Wars. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Gulf Wars Groupie
Well, we are home from Gulf Wars and tired but happy. It was a fabulous experience that I hope will soon be repeated, not just one of those once in a lifetime experiences. We got to stay in the marquee tent belonging to our friends Regan and Faelen (thanks, guys!) and in the words of Owen, currently King of Ansteorra, it was AWESOME!!!! It was like having a great big medieval room to live in. We had rugs over most of the tarp, including big ones under the two beds (cots, ours with an air matress on it). I think we need a new airmatress though. We were airing it up every night and by the end, once you were out of it, you couldn't really get back in. At some point it was like being in more of a hammock or on a waterbed or something. I had lots of fleece and fake fur to layer over the sleeping bags so we were comfy during the chilly nights, even though it was in the 40's. At least, I was comfy unless I had to get up to use the potty and then it was frigging COLD!!!
For those of you who are not in the SCA or have not been to Gulf Wares, it was amazing. My husband and Amelia counted license plates from 37 states and Ontario, although we know that there were people from Quebec there as well. Just about all the Kingdoms in the Known World were represented except for the European kingdom, which I think is Drachenwald. In other words, there were people from everywhere, coming in all week long, even Saturday for just the day. As Miranda said, it was like being in a Medieval Town all week. Many people especially down toward the fields had period encampments; ours was less so, regrettably, but still fun. We were camped on top of Namron (northern Oklahoma) and they got a kick out of hearing the encampment referred to as "Stamron" (Steppes/Namron). There was little extra room at the Ansteorra campground!
There was an opening procession where all the royalty and entourage processed in the morning, with the kings, queens and heirs on horseback. The current Queen of Ansteorra is blind so her horse was led by appropriately dressed persons, but she rode it nonetheless!!! (She's a brave lady). I don't have a great camera but I took lots of pictures and we were down front for all of the pageantry. The Kingdom of Glenn Ahban (Lousiana, probably spelled the kindgdom name wrong) hosts this event in Mississipi (which is part of the Kingdom of Meridies), so they are the "hosts" but it is a war between Ansteorra (Oklahoma and Texas) and Trimaris (Florida). I don't even know the official results yet although I understand we kicked butt in a lot of the battles, and we always kick butt in the Arts and Sciences competition. There is so much to do that I didn't even see anything except for one battle, and didn't see the rapier or the youth boffer either. Or the Bardic competition, although I heard a lot of the bards who competed, including the first and second place bards, at the Green Dragon.
So what did we do all that time if we weren't doing the other things? Well, we took lots of classes. The girls wanted to do Page School, which they loved. They met three of the four queens, had tea on the rapier field, made period fishing poles and went fishing, made bath salts, made a booklet, painted plaster figures, played games, and did lots of other cool stuff. The children's activities were four hours a day with a break for lunch, so it was close to the classes and easiest for us to do, especially since they WANTED to go. Plus it was close to the vendors (I did a bit of shopping too, in fact, quite a lot of shopping and looking and talking to vendors). I took classes in Lampwork, Naalbinding, the Bayeux Tapestry stitch, and the Florilegium (my beading class got cancelled so I slipped into this at the last minute; this was about Stephan's project to collect SCA-related articles and knowlege all in this one website). Two of my classes were cancelled at the last minute but I toured the Arts and Sciences populace display and voted, and Amelia and I toured the barn to see the horses (and we did see some youth boffer and rapier on the way). Miranda and I toured the Greyhound paddock and she got to walk a dog for thirty minutes (R took A down later and they all did this again--it was a big hit). We did not actually see the greyhound coursing or the equestrian events but R was also busy taking classes in a number of macho areas. We observed the leather bottle making and got some materials to do it, and he also took woodscraping, went to see a wood furniture slide show one night, and did a number of other classes. He and Miranda also took an egg basketmaking class and are halfway through an egg basket. He and the girls took a period games class while I was doing lampwork. I skipped the basket making because I unfortunately had burned my finger doing the lampwork (not badly but badly enough that i didn't feel like doing basketry with it). The light was coming into the classroom at a weird angle and I couldn't see the torch so I just took my finger right through it. Next year I want to take some classes in early period life because they have great classes (cooking over an open fire, lots of period stuff). In particular I want R to make the outdoor furnace--there's a class where you can make a little furnace out of a coffee can and mud and use it to start a small fire, kind of like a miniature fire pit--very cool and perfect for roasting marshmallows, and I think you can put charcoal in it.
So I had some mishaps, being accident prone as I am. In addition to burning myself--twice--during lampwork (but not enough to require medical attention), I almost fell off the shower platform in the Namron camp shower and broke my other ankle (keep in mind I was trying to shower at night in the dark with two ten year olds who were screaming that they didn't like showering in the camp shower--Miranda said that was the worst experience of her life). So, no more camp shower in the dark with twins for me. I offered to escort them to one of the bathhouses so they could shower again, but indicated that I would not be walking all over camp in my non period bathrobe, so they decided that one shower for the week was enough. So from then on I used the camp shower on my own in the daylight--unfortunately I never did figure out how to get the propane on hot though, so my next two showers were very cold. It reminded me of that time I went to Europe and showered three times in one week, and only one of the showers was hot. Well, fortunately it was gorgeous weather and not too hot, so I didn't sweat much, and in the open air you don't smell as bad either. I did bring some perfume. I never did get my hair trimmed but it did OK--I kept it in a snood or under a hat most of the time and tried to brush the tangles out twice a day.
My other mishap was that unfortunately I got the stomach bug that was going around, so I had about 24 hours where I didn't get much accomplished, just laid in bed. Fortunately we brought our portable potty and we weren't that far from the regular port a potties (but far enough!!) However the tent was very comfortable. It only rained once, at night, and that was a good thing because the roads were dusty and it cut the dust and the allergens. My nose had been running steadily and I was using lots of non period tissues (no way to wash hankies really), so it was nice to not have to do that. I thought it was asthma because I went into a portapotty after someone had been smoking in there and had an asthma attack and was violently ill. Then I had to go to the chirgeon tent later and get my husband to bring the nebulizer down (we had no electricity and I didn't realize we could have gotten it for medical reasons). So I had a breathing treatment and so did Amelia, who really needed one. But I still didn't feel well and it turned out I had a stomach bug.
So I had a cold when I got there, allergies, asthma attacks, burned finger twice, almost broke ankle, and stomach virus. All in all a typical vacation week for me! (I don't know what it is about vacations but it brings out the worst in my health--broke ankle the first time on the ranch vacation walking on the ROAD, not hiking--serious asthma and allergy problems at Disney World the next year, and I bet I had stomach flu or something on a prior vacation if I really think about it).
One of our acquaintences in Steppes was not impressed with the merchants, who she said have been better in prior years, but there was plenty for us to choose from. I enjoyed chatting with the merchants too. One guy and his wife had lovely hand painted wall hangings and I bought a few of the seconds for $1 each. He had taken leave from Iraq just to be there and will be back this week. Turned out he is from Lufkin originally and went to school at a small Christian school here in Flower Mound! So I wish him and his wife the best. They also had lovely hand-carved clay pipes, which I did not buy because I have so many knick knacks and we don't smoke, but they were very nice indeed.
I got some linen, some naalbinding materials, some Viking glass beads (I made a few but they aren't very good), some veils (I can't get the hang of the edge sewing on the veils--it's like making wedding veils, kind of tricky). Some veil pins, some naalbinding needles, some pins, some buttons, etc. (things that don't cost much and are easy to transport back). R got a knife and a new bag and we both got some cheap leather belts that we may decorate later with some conchos or something. We got a pack of harder leather and some leather ties, and the girls also learned from the leather guy how to braid one or two strings of the leather into belts and bracelets and hat bands. I got some books in kuminhimo (Japanese braiding) so maybe now I can use my loom to full advantage, plus I got the little foamy things, numbered like the book, to use while sitting in bed watching TV. Amelia made me buy some buttons but I don't know what those are for, exactly. The girls got some honeysticks and some other little tchotskes, and I got some inexpensive cloak clasps (mine is still not sewed on and I have to re-do R's but at least we have something--we decided we didn't like the pins I have been holding for us since the Scottish festival). I got them some Viking pins for their little aprons. What I didn't get but wanted was something from the Scandanavian booth that had items made from all over the world by Viking Reinactors, including lanterns made from wood and sheep's bladder, weaving, pottery, beautiful handmade bronze etc. My favorite piece was the $450 coat pin, but of course I didn't get it. Just looked at it three or four times. It was really museum quality stuff. I really wish now that I had gotten the lantern, which was still $90, but I need some veils and linen and stuff more (white linen was $5 a yard and it's $12 a yard on line and never less than about $8 here in town, if you can even find it. At Perth Street linen is $6 a yard but they rarely have black, brown or white). Well, maybe they will come next year. They were very expensive but had beautiful work--it's just that I focused on basics instead this year. Oh, and don't forget the Gulf Wars t shirts!
The trip didn't seem that long for me. It was about 12 to 13 hours with all the stops but I was sewing all the way down and most of the way back except when it was dark. We did have bad weather warnings on the way back (and snow in Dallas) so we stopped in Ruston and spent the night at a Holiday Inn express--got cleaned up and had an awesome breakfast. I also don't know the name of it but there is a fabulous truck stop between Lufkin and Tyler that has marble bathrooms and serves great Barb-B-Que, although it's not cheap ($9 a plate, $2 for extra sides). I got Amelia two sides and Miranda insisted on getting her own meal, but I took the leftovers home and had them for lunch Monday. The Barbeque is not as good as the Bodacious Barbeque which is in the same general area, but it is not bad. Only in Texas do the truck stops have Marble Bathrooms. Welcome back to civilization. It was snowing (flurries) and I wore my cloak inside so I got some strange looks, especially since our wardrobe by then was not very coordinated (whatever was clean, basically, and R was wearing my Big Rock Ranch shirt--hopefully no one knew it was from a Scrapbooking retreat).
But back to Gulf Wars. The best part of Gulf Wars for me was going to the Green Dragon to hear Heather Dale and other premiere bards, from Ansteorra and other parts of the known World. I didn't buy any CDs because I know I can get them later but the music was fabulous. This is a real pub, and everyone sits around in garb in the candlelight. There is some artificial lighting in period style lamps but not much. There is a gallery overhead where the performers can be or they can be on the main floor. They have beverages and food for a "suggested donation," a whole Ploughman's platter for $3. Presumably if you can't pay you can still eat and drink a bit. (of course there's a lot of free food and booze and the nightly parties too). We heard Ken Theriot (whose SCA name I am blanking out on) sing "To Serve the Lily" from Human History (one of his albums of SCA songs) and Owain Phyfe who we know from Scarborough Faire was also there! He was also at the Mediterranean place the next day (fabulous food there too!) And of course Heather Dale herself, all the way from Canada, although I believe she is going to be giving a house concert here in Dallas soon. She has, as one person in the audience said, the voice of an angel. She made me cry, and the girls were transfixed. We had to leave after her second set because they were getting tired and my stomach was acting up, and there were royals in the gallery so I didn't want to have an accident or something up there, so we sort of snuck away to give them a better seat, but it was marvelous. Except for a vehicle that I saw go by outside (probably a golf cart since most vehicles are parked at the parking lot all week), it was really like being in a medieval pub, except that people probably smelled better and were from all periods of history in their dress. Oh, R and I also really enjoyed the dirty Viking humor on the last night, especially the Odin Revival done in the style of Jimmy Swaggert ("Can I get an Odin? Do I hear an Odin? As opposed to "Amen.") And we weren't even that drunk.
We did take the kids to the Green Dragon a lot (although we left them in bed for the Viking humor part). We went to the Axmore party for Baroness Morgan's Pelican elevation (got our Bob names and everything--tasted some really good trashcan punch and mead). We skipped a lot of the wilder parties, and I was sick or I would have gone over to the Wolfstar party. We did go to the Known World party hosted by Ansteorra, which was Octoberfest--lots of free sausage on a stick and pretzels to die for, and German Bar maids with shots, and mead and beer and some of the sourest cider I think I have ever had. Plus trashcan punch of course, and I was proud to say that we contributed some of the Christmas lights that were decorating the place. This was held inside the fort after the grand court and the elevation ceremony of Baroness Morgan, who gave us all linen handkerchiefs as favors so we could cry with her (and we all got to wave them in the air). Even the girls enjoyed the Known World party, although we did take them home after a short while and put them to bed, then went out again ourselves and back to the Green Dragon and the party. There was lots of drumming and dancing, although I never did make it over to the middle eastern area. Next year maybe we will get out more, since the girls don't mind sleeping in the tent alone now. Unfortunately though, there is not much for teens--they need some teen activities in the evening, or teen parties, because some of the parties will not admit anyone under 21.
Well, enough for now. I will probably be gushing about Gulf Wars all week. The kids are ready now to go to Pennsic. Probably won't go this year, but we are definitely thinking about Lillies War in Kansas this summer!
PleasantValleyMom, sorry to be back in the mundane again
For those of you who are not in the SCA or have not been to Gulf Wares, it was amazing. My husband and Amelia counted license plates from 37 states and Ontario, although we know that there were people from Quebec there as well. Just about all the Kingdoms in the Known World were represented except for the European kingdom, which I think is Drachenwald. In other words, there were people from everywhere, coming in all week long, even Saturday for just the day. As Miranda said, it was like being in a Medieval Town all week. Many people especially down toward the fields had period encampments; ours was less so, regrettably, but still fun. We were camped on top of Namron (northern Oklahoma) and they got a kick out of hearing the encampment referred to as "Stamron" (Steppes/Namron). There was little extra room at the Ansteorra campground!
There was an opening procession where all the royalty and entourage processed in the morning, with the kings, queens and heirs on horseback. The current Queen of Ansteorra is blind so her horse was led by appropriately dressed persons, but she rode it nonetheless!!! (She's a brave lady). I don't have a great camera but I took lots of pictures and we were down front for all of the pageantry. The Kingdom of Glenn Ahban (Lousiana, probably spelled the kindgdom name wrong) hosts this event in Mississipi (which is part of the Kingdom of Meridies), so they are the "hosts" but it is a war between Ansteorra (Oklahoma and Texas) and Trimaris (Florida). I don't even know the official results yet although I understand we kicked butt in a lot of the battles, and we always kick butt in the Arts and Sciences competition. There is so much to do that I didn't even see anything except for one battle, and didn't see the rapier or the youth boffer either. Or the Bardic competition, although I heard a lot of the bards who competed, including the first and second place bards, at the Green Dragon.
So what did we do all that time if we weren't doing the other things? Well, we took lots of classes. The girls wanted to do Page School, which they loved. They met three of the four queens, had tea on the rapier field, made period fishing poles and went fishing, made bath salts, made a booklet, painted plaster figures, played games, and did lots of other cool stuff. The children's activities were four hours a day with a break for lunch, so it was close to the classes and easiest for us to do, especially since they WANTED to go. Plus it was close to the vendors (I did a bit of shopping too, in fact, quite a lot of shopping and looking and talking to vendors). I took classes in Lampwork, Naalbinding, the Bayeux Tapestry stitch, and the Florilegium (my beading class got cancelled so I slipped into this at the last minute; this was about Stephan's project to collect SCA-related articles and knowlege all in this one website). Two of my classes were cancelled at the last minute but I toured the Arts and Sciences populace display and voted, and Amelia and I toured the barn to see the horses (and we did see some youth boffer and rapier on the way). Miranda and I toured the Greyhound paddock and she got to walk a dog for thirty minutes (R took A down later and they all did this again--it was a big hit). We did not actually see the greyhound coursing or the equestrian events but R was also busy taking classes in a number of macho areas. We observed the leather bottle making and got some materials to do it, and he also took woodscraping, went to see a wood furniture slide show one night, and did a number of other classes. He and Miranda also took an egg basketmaking class and are halfway through an egg basket. He and the girls took a period games class while I was doing lampwork. I skipped the basket making because I unfortunately had burned my finger doing the lampwork (not badly but badly enough that i didn't feel like doing basketry with it). The light was coming into the classroom at a weird angle and I couldn't see the torch so I just took my finger right through it. Next year I want to take some classes in early period life because they have great classes (cooking over an open fire, lots of period stuff). In particular I want R to make the outdoor furnace--there's a class where you can make a little furnace out of a coffee can and mud and use it to start a small fire, kind of like a miniature fire pit--very cool and perfect for roasting marshmallows, and I think you can put charcoal in it.
So I had some mishaps, being accident prone as I am. In addition to burning myself--twice--during lampwork (but not enough to require medical attention), I almost fell off the shower platform in the Namron camp shower and broke my other ankle (keep in mind I was trying to shower at night in the dark with two ten year olds who were screaming that they didn't like showering in the camp shower--Miranda said that was the worst experience of her life). So, no more camp shower in the dark with twins for me. I offered to escort them to one of the bathhouses so they could shower again, but indicated that I would not be walking all over camp in my non period bathrobe, so they decided that one shower for the week was enough. So from then on I used the camp shower on my own in the daylight--unfortunately I never did figure out how to get the propane on hot though, so my next two showers were very cold. It reminded me of that time I went to Europe and showered three times in one week, and only one of the showers was hot. Well, fortunately it was gorgeous weather and not too hot, so I didn't sweat much, and in the open air you don't smell as bad either. I did bring some perfume. I never did get my hair trimmed but it did OK--I kept it in a snood or under a hat most of the time and tried to brush the tangles out twice a day.
My other mishap was that unfortunately I got the stomach bug that was going around, so I had about 24 hours where I didn't get much accomplished, just laid in bed. Fortunately we brought our portable potty and we weren't that far from the regular port a potties (but far enough!!) However the tent was very comfortable. It only rained once, at night, and that was a good thing because the roads were dusty and it cut the dust and the allergens. My nose had been running steadily and I was using lots of non period tissues (no way to wash hankies really), so it was nice to not have to do that. I thought it was asthma because I went into a portapotty after someone had been smoking in there and had an asthma attack and was violently ill. Then I had to go to the chirgeon tent later and get my husband to bring the nebulizer down (we had no electricity and I didn't realize we could have gotten it for medical reasons). So I had a breathing treatment and so did Amelia, who really needed one. But I still didn't feel well and it turned out I had a stomach bug.
So I had a cold when I got there, allergies, asthma attacks, burned finger twice, almost broke ankle, and stomach virus. All in all a typical vacation week for me! (I don't know what it is about vacations but it brings out the worst in my health--broke ankle the first time on the ranch vacation walking on the ROAD, not hiking--serious asthma and allergy problems at Disney World the next year, and I bet I had stomach flu or something on a prior vacation if I really think about it).
One of our acquaintences in Steppes was not impressed with the merchants, who she said have been better in prior years, but there was plenty for us to choose from. I enjoyed chatting with the merchants too. One guy and his wife had lovely hand painted wall hangings and I bought a few of the seconds for $1 each. He had taken leave from Iraq just to be there and will be back this week. Turned out he is from Lufkin originally and went to school at a small Christian school here in Flower Mound! So I wish him and his wife the best. They also had lovely hand-carved clay pipes, which I did not buy because I have so many knick knacks and we don't smoke, but they were very nice indeed.
I got some linen, some naalbinding materials, some Viking glass beads (I made a few but they aren't very good), some veils (I can't get the hang of the edge sewing on the veils--it's like making wedding veils, kind of tricky). Some veil pins, some naalbinding needles, some pins, some buttons, etc. (things that don't cost much and are easy to transport back). R got a knife and a new bag and we both got some cheap leather belts that we may decorate later with some conchos or something. We got a pack of harder leather and some leather ties, and the girls also learned from the leather guy how to braid one or two strings of the leather into belts and bracelets and hat bands. I got some books in kuminhimo (Japanese braiding) so maybe now I can use my loom to full advantage, plus I got the little foamy things, numbered like the book, to use while sitting in bed watching TV. Amelia made me buy some buttons but I don't know what those are for, exactly. The girls got some honeysticks and some other little tchotskes, and I got some inexpensive cloak clasps (mine is still not sewed on and I have to re-do R's but at least we have something--we decided we didn't like the pins I have been holding for us since the Scottish festival). I got them some Viking pins for their little aprons. What I didn't get but wanted was something from the Scandanavian booth that had items made from all over the world by Viking Reinactors, including lanterns made from wood and sheep's bladder, weaving, pottery, beautiful handmade bronze etc. My favorite piece was the $450 coat pin, but of course I didn't get it. Just looked at it three or four times. It was really museum quality stuff. I really wish now that I had gotten the lantern, which was still $90, but I need some veils and linen and stuff more (white linen was $5 a yard and it's $12 a yard on line and never less than about $8 here in town, if you can even find it. At Perth Street linen is $6 a yard but they rarely have black, brown or white). Well, maybe they will come next year. They were very expensive but had beautiful work--it's just that I focused on basics instead this year. Oh, and don't forget the Gulf Wars t shirts!
The trip didn't seem that long for me. It was about 12 to 13 hours with all the stops but I was sewing all the way down and most of the way back except when it was dark. We did have bad weather warnings on the way back (and snow in Dallas) so we stopped in Ruston and spent the night at a Holiday Inn express--got cleaned up and had an awesome breakfast. I also don't know the name of it but there is a fabulous truck stop between Lufkin and Tyler that has marble bathrooms and serves great Barb-B-Que, although it's not cheap ($9 a plate, $2 for extra sides). I got Amelia two sides and Miranda insisted on getting her own meal, but I took the leftovers home and had them for lunch Monday. The Barbeque is not as good as the Bodacious Barbeque which is in the same general area, but it is not bad. Only in Texas do the truck stops have Marble Bathrooms. Welcome back to civilization. It was snowing (flurries) and I wore my cloak inside so I got some strange looks, especially since our wardrobe by then was not very coordinated (whatever was clean, basically, and R was wearing my Big Rock Ranch shirt--hopefully no one knew it was from a Scrapbooking retreat).
But back to Gulf Wars. The best part of Gulf Wars for me was going to the Green Dragon to hear Heather Dale and other premiere bards, from Ansteorra and other parts of the known World. I didn't buy any CDs because I know I can get them later but the music was fabulous. This is a real pub, and everyone sits around in garb in the candlelight. There is some artificial lighting in period style lamps but not much. There is a gallery overhead where the performers can be or they can be on the main floor. They have beverages and food for a "suggested donation," a whole Ploughman's platter for $3. Presumably if you can't pay you can still eat and drink a bit. (of course there's a lot of free food and booze and the nightly parties too). We heard Ken Theriot (whose SCA name I am blanking out on) sing "To Serve the Lily" from Human History (one of his albums of SCA songs) and Owain Phyfe who we know from Scarborough Faire was also there! He was also at the Mediterranean place the next day (fabulous food there too!) And of course Heather Dale herself, all the way from Canada, although I believe she is going to be giving a house concert here in Dallas soon. She has, as one person in the audience said, the voice of an angel. She made me cry, and the girls were transfixed. We had to leave after her second set because they were getting tired and my stomach was acting up, and there were royals in the gallery so I didn't want to have an accident or something up there, so we sort of snuck away to give them a better seat, but it was marvelous. Except for a vehicle that I saw go by outside (probably a golf cart since most vehicles are parked at the parking lot all week), it was really like being in a medieval pub, except that people probably smelled better and were from all periods of history in their dress. Oh, R and I also really enjoyed the dirty Viking humor on the last night, especially the Odin Revival done in the style of Jimmy Swaggert ("Can I get an Odin? Do I hear an Odin? As opposed to "Amen.") And we weren't even that drunk.
We did take the kids to the Green Dragon a lot (although we left them in bed for the Viking humor part). We went to the Axmore party for Baroness Morgan's Pelican elevation (got our Bob names and everything--tasted some really good trashcan punch and mead). We skipped a lot of the wilder parties, and I was sick or I would have gone over to the Wolfstar party. We did go to the Known World party hosted by Ansteorra, which was Octoberfest--lots of free sausage on a stick and pretzels to die for, and German Bar maids with shots, and mead and beer and some of the sourest cider I think I have ever had. Plus trashcan punch of course, and I was proud to say that we contributed some of the Christmas lights that were decorating the place. This was held inside the fort after the grand court and the elevation ceremony of Baroness Morgan, who gave us all linen handkerchiefs as favors so we could cry with her (and we all got to wave them in the air). Even the girls enjoyed the Known World party, although we did take them home after a short while and put them to bed, then went out again ourselves and back to the Green Dragon and the party. There was lots of drumming and dancing, although I never did make it over to the middle eastern area. Next year maybe we will get out more, since the girls don't mind sleeping in the tent alone now. Unfortunately though, there is not much for teens--they need some teen activities in the evening, or teen parties, because some of the parties will not admit anyone under 21.
Well, enough for now. I will probably be gushing about Gulf Wars all week. The kids are ready now to go to Pennsic. Probably won't go this year, but we are definitely thinking about Lillies War in Kansas this summer!
PleasantValleyMom, sorry to be back in the mundane again
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Godzilla Meets God at the Gucci Wally-World
Well, I feel like Mohammed; I've been to the Mountain. I've been to the Gucci Wally-World for two days in a row. The first day I spent lots of money and the second day I tried to take the store tour without spending very much (had to go back to do returns and because I forgot my sweet potatoes). After all, I know that french store Tar-jay backward and forward because I worked there for about six months(I know that's not a French spelling but my keyboard doesn't DO accents). Why not Wally-World?
This is not just ANY Wally-World. This is the Gucci Wally-World. It is located a few miles away near some very toney, lovely homes that used to be on a lake. The lake is still there but it has receded and receded, and now many of these folks have lovely meadow-front property. Nevertheless, when it was proposed to build a Wally-World in their town, some of them fought it tooth and nail. It needed to be the nicest Wally-World you ever saw in your life. It is probably the biggest tax revenue generator they have--I wish it was across the street in MY town.
And it is the biggest, nicest, brightest Wally-World you ever saw. It has two separate entrances, one for people who are just browsing like me today (the non food stuff) and one for the serious shoppers (the grocery stuff). I can tell you that you will sell three times as many Girl Scout cookies at the grocery entrance during Cookie Season. You have to sign your GS Troop up for those cookie booths at 6:30 am a month in advance on the day the booths hit the system by the way, because you can sell 200 boxes of cookies there in 2 hours. Seriously. These customers have the bucks!
This Wally-World is beige, not that obnoxious shade of Wally-World blue. Both of my vehicles are beige so I understand the need for a little beige in the Suburban existence. It keeps you from standing out too much. It's classier. Although my mini van does have a dent in it, one that has been there for almost 10 years. I could get this repaired if I wanted to spend $300 or more, but I don't. It's not just because I can ALWAYS think of a better way to spend $300. With a dent in it, my beige van stands out in the Wally-World parking lot (meaning that someone directionally challenged like me, who is always thinking about something else other than what she is really doing--call it a defense mechanism--can find her van with a cart or two full of groceries). And that dent, coupled with an UpWard Cheerleading sticker from 3 years ago that is magnetic, does indeed help me find the van. It also says: "Suburban mom, doesn't care about appearances or is broke. You guess which one!"
UpWard Cheerleading being a Christian cheerleading program for kids that is sponsored by our church, the sticker is subtle. It says to the world, Suburban mom, Christian (or at least tried to be for one season), but not too uptight about it (unlike the people with the metal fishes on their cars that are permanent--my neice had the one with feet that said "Darwin.") My husband considers himself a Christian (I think) but if he were to choose a fish I know it would be the Darwin one. So no fish for us. It's not Lent on our car. When I first moved to Dallas I actually asked the guy I was dating where everyone was getting their fishes and was it a particular car dealership that used a fish as its symbol? (I just didn't get it, needless to say.) After that, every time we saw a car with a fish on it, he would laugh and say, "Look, there's another car from the Fish Dealership!" It was kind of like our family joke today, repeating Miranda's classic line, "Why are there so many BOATS in the Marina????" We do this any time anyone in the family asks a really stupid question or makes a really lame comment.
My husband also hates bumper stickers or anything that identifies who you are, who your kids are, what your religious or political persuasions are, etc. etc.--wouldn't even let me put a flag on the car after 9-11 when it was en vogue. But UpWard Cheerleading stays because it's MAGNETIC and therefore not permanent. Presumably it could fall right off if I take a sharp corner. But Soccer Mom of Straight A Students at X Elementary who voted for McCain/Obama will not be appearing on our vehicle any time soon. Well, I'm not a soccer mom any more anyway, so that's OK by me. I keep trying to persuade him that we do need to take a stand and get the SCA sticker before Gulf War in case we break down on the road, but so far, no such luck.
I also find it vaguely amusing in that sarcastic way of mine, even though my kids enjoyed theUpward program, that the one thing on my car is this magnetic sticker advertising cheerleading. Because I am so NOT a cheerleader, and my girls don't realize it yet but they are so NOT cheerleaders too. Well, Miranda could be because she looks good in a potato sack (just cinch it up!) but maybe she will not figure this out. Or at least I hope I am raising them that way. And this was so NOT a traditional cheerleading program--they just cheer for UpWard, not any one team. They all wear the same uniform (all the flag football teams and all the cheerleaders). Girls can play flag football and boys can be cheerleaders too, although I've never seen any boys do this in Pleasant Valley (we don't have cross-dressing, gender confused children here! Not in our town!) I have heard of girls playing the flag football, but that was in a family of five kids where the rule was that they all had to do the same activity in a season to keep the mom from going bonkers. In Upward, they don't announce who wins the game or even what team is playing (they are all on the UpWard team, get it???) So, how beige can you get???? Flag football becomes non-cmpetitive, and of course, cheerleading always has been, right?
Well, back to Wally-World--this Wally-World has a park!! Seriously, they dug out an area between the two entrances to save a giant live oak, and built a little park around it. The little park even complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act and has little wheelchair ramps (although they are pretty steep), which all the little girl scouts enjoy running up and down, especially with the cookie wagons (the trolley things you are supposed to use in the gardening center). This is one reason NOT to sell cookies there--the girls will want to spend all their time running around in the park instead of asking strangers for money.
This Wally-World has beautiful, gleaming merchandise like you have never seen in a Wally-World. Rose petals for your wedding in seven different colors (got lavender and green on clearance to use for scrapbooking and card making--originally $5 each, now only $1 each). I might make some little fairy swaps or dolls out of the leftover wooden clothespins I saw in the craft bin at home, using these petals as dresses or wings or something. Who knows? The sky is the limit.
Martha Stewart scrapbooking paper--wow! And products featured on her Martha Stewart Infomercial (her noon show). Look, there's the glitter pack that was featured at Christmas! Only $15!! (did not get it; settled for $8 of scrapbook paper. Hate to clean up glitter in the house and it's the last thing we need all over our Gulf War garb; plus I don't need to make glitter birds and fruits and things for Christmas for at least 10 months now).
Need M & M's for the school party tomorrow--well, the chocolate ones are already gone and the candy is pretty picked over. I note that the candy boxes like I got last week for the Valentines are almost gone too. It pays to shop early at Wally-World! This is the most popular aisle today (seasonal) because all the school parties are this week. Oh, look--Harry Potter valentines! Should have gotten those instead of those lame holographic dogs. Maybe next year. Harry Potter is now acceptable at the Gucci Wal-Mart and in Pleasant Valley since he was more of a Christ-like figure in Book 7, sacrificing himself for his friends, etc. Now that it is clear to all the Christians out here that there is fake witchcraft based on bogus Latin spells and there is real evil, personified by Voldemort. But I digress.
OOOOOH! Look at all the cool office supplies! (yesterday I went through the business grocery end--blechh--but today I am having fun and taking the recreational tour). Yes, here's the boring computer paper I forgot yesterday, for only $3.37. But oooooo! Here's a poster of Taylor Lautner on the cover of Rolling Stone. I'm too old to get Rolling Stone any more but I'm not too old to appreciate the charms of Taylor Lautner. He sure has filled out since Shark Boy. The girls call him Shakob (a combination of Shark Boy and Jacob, his character in New Moon). Oh, my! Drool, drool! (Ok, Ok, I know he's young enough to be my son but I can still fantasize, right?) I won't get into it here although it's tempting, but don't you think you'd rather sleep with the warm, furry wolf that was your friend than the cold, bloodsucking vampire who is trying to resist killing you? Just a thought. But I get cold easily in the winter. Cute as Robert Pattinson is (the girls call him Ced-ward based on the Harry Potter Character of Cedric that he played in Goblet of Fire, known as "Giblets of Fur" in our home)--well, cute as he is, the idea of sex with someone who is--uh--that cold ALL over-- is not very appealing, at least to me. But I digress.
On the the REAL sewing aisle. The other day I got some scissors and a thread box and all sorts of little "notions" that will help me pretend that I am really a seamstress when my friend Viviana comes over to cut out fabric with me for Gulf Wars. So, nothing today, and I will skip the jewelry supplies with their gleaming beads and crystals. I started to get into that hobby but I am not into that today. Let's see--can skip automotive--got the Scotchguard for the tent there already. Looking through all the cheap towels and blankets and rugs--no, don't want to spend this much for rugs for Gulf War--I can probably borrow them instead from a friend. These are for use indoors (who would use rugs indoors anyway--aren't they for camping??) So no rugs today, and why would I want to decorate my house when I am focused on decorating my tent at Gulf Wars??? I really need to hit World Market o the next Dreaded Pay Day.
Skipping the camping equipment too--got Robert his Valentine's Day present there the other day (I can't say what it is in case he is reading, but Robert, it's not the $160 tent!) Looking through toys--still out of the $7.44 Zhu Zhu pets. Bummer. It's a good thing I made Robert go by a different Wally-World on the way home from work so we could have a gift for Sunday's birthday party. Skipping the movies--too much temptation. I want Julie and Julia and the three seasons of the old Beauty and the Beast show--and for $55 this could all be mine!! But I haven't finished all the BBC Robin Hoods yet or even made it through my Cricut video so I guess I will stay away. Maybe I will get some of it for Valentine's Day instead of flowers--hint, hint. Electronics--yuk. That's for men and women looking to meet men. Skip it. Clothing--already got the $10 boots on clearance the other day. Don't think they got in any more kids boots--we are done for the season unless we want purple, and it's not very Period. Already got the men's underwear and pjs to wear under our clothes (they don't have anything this utilitarian for me so I will just have to squeeze my bust into men's stuff to attain that medieval bust line). Brought back the stuff that didn't fit and got my sweet potatos refunded (they actually have a LOG of stuff that get's left behind! How cool! I don't think Tar-jay did that!)
Well, the fun is almost over. I already got $1.50 plastic tablecloths for Saturday's Kindom A & S event (it's for the kids' area--otherwise I would use fabric). I know they are cheaper at the dollar store but I don't want to go there today--way too much temptation at the dollar store for someone who is already buying green rose petals. And Wally-World doesn't have fabric any more, and I want some linen for a gift; I had some cheap linen but now I have decided I want that for my embroidery, so on to Hancock Fabrics to buy some expensive linen, even at 30% off.
Time to check out at Wally-World after a few food items are added to the cart. Did you notice that they have brown stained concrete floors? Looks great, nice and cheap (and hell on my feet). Did you notice the flourescent lighting and skylights to keep down the light bills (it beats keeping the lights off for 4 hours every morning like they used to do at JCP). Did you notice the fresh flowers, the sushi bar, the bakery goods that are all shiny and gleaming? Too pretty to eat. Does nayone actually buy them or are they made out of plastic like the sushi displays in the Japanese restaurants in San Francisco? How about the "to go" area for those who don't cook--soups, and salads and all sorts of lovely, overpriced but ready to eat merchandise. Pick up dinner in a second (well, not today--we have stuff at home already). Did you notice that if they aren't busy they will take your cart from you in the parking lot so you don't have to put it up yourself? Did you notice the secondary seasonal aisle across from the groceries--it was the SuperBowl one stop shop only a week ago, where I bought Rotel and Velveeta that I still haven't even used (can't stand Velveeta except when it is microwaved with Rotel to make queso, and then it's AWESOME!!)
This week "mini seasonal" as we used to call it at Tar-Jay is focused on last minute Valentines' gifts for people who want to spend less than $10. (This is actually the point in real life where I actually had to go back across the store again and get the M & M's for the party because the kid's party stuff was in the Seasonal section across the store, in order to get all the moms to walk by the scrapbooking stuff. So I walked by the scrapbooking stuff TWICE).
So, back across the store cursing silently. No matter how efficient I try to be I just don't know the store well enough to avoid backtracking. Screaming kid in the background-- sounds like Godzilla--and I am reminded that it is Wally-World after all. Should have brought my i-pod like my friend Wendy does, but then I might have missed something like that deal on green and lavender rose petals. By God, I love retail!!!!
This is not just ANY Wally-World. This is the Gucci Wally-World. It is located a few miles away near some very toney, lovely homes that used to be on a lake. The lake is still there but it has receded and receded, and now many of these folks have lovely meadow-front property. Nevertheless, when it was proposed to build a Wally-World in their town, some of them fought it tooth and nail. It needed to be the nicest Wally-World you ever saw in your life. It is probably the biggest tax revenue generator they have--I wish it was across the street in MY town.
And it is the biggest, nicest, brightest Wally-World you ever saw. It has two separate entrances, one for people who are just browsing like me today (the non food stuff) and one for the serious shoppers (the grocery stuff). I can tell you that you will sell three times as many Girl Scout cookies at the grocery entrance during Cookie Season. You have to sign your GS Troop up for those cookie booths at 6:30 am a month in advance on the day the booths hit the system by the way, because you can sell 200 boxes of cookies there in 2 hours. Seriously. These customers have the bucks!
This Wally-World is beige, not that obnoxious shade of Wally-World blue. Both of my vehicles are beige so I understand the need for a little beige in the Suburban existence. It keeps you from standing out too much. It's classier. Although my mini van does have a dent in it, one that has been there for almost 10 years. I could get this repaired if I wanted to spend $300 or more, but I don't. It's not just because I can ALWAYS think of a better way to spend $300. With a dent in it, my beige van stands out in the Wally-World parking lot (meaning that someone directionally challenged like me, who is always thinking about something else other than what she is really doing--call it a defense mechanism--can find her van with a cart or two full of groceries). And that dent, coupled with an UpWard Cheerleading sticker from 3 years ago that is magnetic, does indeed help me find the van. It also says: "Suburban mom, doesn't care about appearances or is broke. You guess which one!"
UpWard Cheerleading being a Christian cheerleading program for kids that is sponsored by our church, the sticker is subtle. It says to the world, Suburban mom, Christian (or at least tried to be for one season), but not too uptight about it (unlike the people with the metal fishes on their cars that are permanent--my neice had the one with feet that said "Darwin.") My husband considers himself a Christian (I think) but if he were to choose a fish I know it would be the Darwin one. So no fish for us. It's not Lent on our car. When I first moved to Dallas I actually asked the guy I was dating where everyone was getting their fishes and was it a particular car dealership that used a fish as its symbol? (I just didn't get it, needless to say.) After that, every time we saw a car with a fish on it, he would laugh and say, "Look, there's another car from the Fish Dealership!" It was kind of like our family joke today, repeating Miranda's classic line, "Why are there so many BOATS in the Marina????" We do this any time anyone in the family asks a really stupid question or makes a really lame comment.
My husband also hates bumper stickers or anything that identifies who you are, who your kids are, what your religious or political persuasions are, etc. etc.--wouldn't even let me put a flag on the car after 9-11 when it was en vogue. But UpWard Cheerleading stays because it's MAGNETIC and therefore not permanent. Presumably it could fall right off if I take a sharp corner. But Soccer Mom of Straight A Students at X Elementary who voted for McCain/Obama will not be appearing on our vehicle any time soon. Well, I'm not a soccer mom any more anyway, so that's OK by me. I keep trying to persuade him that we do need to take a stand and get the SCA sticker before Gulf War in case we break down on the road, but so far, no such luck.
I also find it vaguely amusing in that sarcastic way of mine, even though my kids enjoyed theUpward program, that the one thing on my car is this magnetic sticker advertising cheerleading. Because I am so NOT a cheerleader, and my girls don't realize it yet but they are so NOT cheerleaders too. Well, Miranda could be because she looks good in a potato sack (just cinch it up!) but maybe she will not figure this out. Or at least I hope I am raising them that way. And this was so NOT a traditional cheerleading program--they just cheer for UpWard, not any one team. They all wear the same uniform (all the flag football teams and all the cheerleaders). Girls can play flag football and boys can be cheerleaders too, although I've never seen any boys do this in Pleasant Valley (we don't have cross-dressing, gender confused children here! Not in our town!) I have heard of girls playing the flag football, but that was in a family of five kids where the rule was that they all had to do the same activity in a season to keep the mom from going bonkers. In Upward, they don't announce who wins the game or even what team is playing (they are all on the UpWard team, get it???) So, how beige can you get???? Flag football becomes non-cmpetitive, and of course, cheerleading always has been, right?
Well, back to Wally-World--this Wally-World has a park!! Seriously, they dug out an area between the two entrances to save a giant live oak, and built a little park around it. The little park even complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act and has little wheelchair ramps (although they are pretty steep), which all the little girl scouts enjoy running up and down, especially with the cookie wagons (the trolley things you are supposed to use in the gardening center). This is one reason NOT to sell cookies there--the girls will want to spend all their time running around in the park instead of asking strangers for money.
This Wally-World has beautiful, gleaming merchandise like you have never seen in a Wally-World. Rose petals for your wedding in seven different colors (got lavender and green on clearance to use for scrapbooking and card making--originally $5 each, now only $1 each). I might make some little fairy swaps or dolls out of the leftover wooden clothespins I saw in the craft bin at home, using these petals as dresses or wings or something. Who knows? The sky is the limit.
Martha Stewart scrapbooking paper--wow! And products featured on her Martha Stewart Infomercial (her noon show). Look, there's the glitter pack that was featured at Christmas! Only $15!! (did not get it; settled for $8 of scrapbook paper. Hate to clean up glitter in the house and it's the last thing we need all over our Gulf War garb; plus I don't need to make glitter birds and fruits and things for Christmas for at least 10 months now).
Need M & M's for the school party tomorrow--well, the chocolate ones are already gone and the candy is pretty picked over. I note that the candy boxes like I got last week for the Valentines are almost gone too. It pays to shop early at Wally-World! This is the most popular aisle today (seasonal) because all the school parties are this week. Oh, look--Harry Potter valentines! Should have gotten those instead of those lame holographic dogs. Maybe next year. Harry Potter is now acceptable at the Gucci Wal-Mart and in Pleasant Valley since he was more of a Christ-like figure in Book 7, sacrificing himself for his friends, etc. Now that it is clear to all the Christians out here that there is fake witchcraft based on bogus Latin spells and there is real evil, personified by Voldemort. But I digress.
OOOOOH! Look at all the cool office supplies! (yesterday I went through the business grocery end--blechh--but today I am having fun and taking the recreational tour). Yes, here's the boring computer paper I forgot yesterday, for only $3.37. But oooooo! Here's a poster of Taylor Lautner on the cover of Rolling Stone. I'm too old to get Rolling Stone any more but I'm not too old to appreciate the charms of Taylor Lautner. He sure has filled out since Shark Boy. The girls call him Shakob (a combination of Shark Boy and Jacob, his character in New Moon). Oh, my! Drool, drool! (Ok, Ok, I know he's young enough to be my son but I can still fantasize, right?) I won't get into it here although it's tempting, but don't you think you'd rather sleep with the warm, furry wolf that was your friend than the cold, bloodsucking vampire who is trying to resist killing you? Just a thought. But I get cold easily in the winter. Cute as Robert Pattinson is (the girls call him Ced-ward based on the Harry Potter Character of Cedric that he played in Goblet of Fire, known as "Giblets of Fur" in our home)--well, cute as he is, the idea of sex with someone who is--uh--that cold ALL over-- is not very appealing, at least to me. But I digress.
On the the REAL sewing aisle. The other day I got some scissors and a thread box and all sorts of little "notions" that will help me pretend that I am really a seamstress when my friend Viviana comes over to cut out fabric with me for Gulf Wars. So, nothing today, and I will skip the jewelry supplies with their gleaming beads and crystals. I started to get into that hobby but I am not into that today. Let's see--can skip automotive--got the Scotchguard for the tent there already. Looking through all the cheap towels and blankets and rugs--no, don't want to spend this much for rugs for Gulf War--I can probably borrow them instead from a friend. These are for use indoors (who would use rugs indoors anyway--aren't they for camping??) So no rugs today, and why would I want to decorate my house when I am focused on decorating my tent at Gulf Wars??? I really need to hit World Market o the next Dreaded Pay Day.
Skipping the camping equipment too--got Robert his Valentine's Day present there the other day (I can't say what it is in case he is reading, but Robert, it's not the $160 tent!) Looking through toys--still out of the $7.44 Zhu Zhu pets. Bummer. It's a good thing I made Robert go by a different Wally-World on the way home from work so we could have a gift for Sunday's birthday party. Skipping the movies--too much temptation. I want Julie and Julia and the three seasons of the old Beauty and the Beast show--and for $55 this could all be mine!! But I haven't finished all the BBC Robin Hoods yet or even made it through my Cricut video so I guess I will stay away. Maybe I will get some of it for Valentine's Day instead of flowers--hint, hint. Electronics--yuk. That's for men and women looking to meet men. Skip it. Clothing--already got the $10 boots on clearance the other day. Don't think they got in any more kids boots--we are done for the season unless we want purple, and it's not very Period. Already got the men's underwear and pjs to wear under our clothes (they don't have anything this utilitarian for me so I will just have to squeeze my bust into men's stuff to attain that medieval bust line). Brought back the stuff that didn't fit and got my sweet potatos refunded (they actually have a LOG of stuff that get's left behind! How cool! I don't think Tar-jay did that!)
Well, the fun is almost over. I already got $1.50 plastic tablecloths for Saturday's Kindom A & S event (it's for the kids' area--otherwise I would use fabric). I know they are cheaper at the dollar store but I don't want to go there today--way too much temptation at the dollar store for someone who is already buying green rose petals. And Wally-World doesn't have fabric any more, and I want some linen for a gift; I had some cheap linen but now I have decided I want that for my embroidery, so on to Hancock Fabrics to buy some expensive linen, even at 30% off.
Time to check out at Wally-World after a few food items are added to the cart. Did you notice that they have brown stained concrete floors? Looks great, nice and cheap (and hell on my feet). Did you notice the flourescent lighting and skylights to keep down the light bills (it beats keeping the lights off for 4 hours every morning like they used to do at JCP). Did you notice the fresh flowers, the sushi bar, the bakery goods that are all shiny and gleaming? Too pretty to eat. Does nayone actually buy them or are they made out of plastic like the sushi displays in the Japanese restaurants in San Francisco? How about the "to go" area for those who don't cook--soups, and salads and all sorts of lovely, overpriced but ready to eat merchandise. Pick up dinner in a second (well, not today--we have stuff at home already). Did you notice that if they aren't busy they will take your cart from you in the parking lot so you don't have to put it up yourself? Did you notice the secondary seasonal aisle across from the groceries--it was the SuperBowl one stop shop only a week ago, where I bought Rotel and Velveeta that I still haven't even used (can't stand Velveeta except when it is microwaved with Rotel to make queso, and then it's AWESOME!!)
This week "mini seasonal" as we used to call it at Tar-Jay is focused on last minute Valentines' gifts for people who want to spend less than $10. (This is actually the point in real life where I actually had to go back across the store again and get the M & M's for the party because the kid's party stuff was in the Seasonal section across the store, in order to get all the moms to walk by the scrapbooking stuff. So I walked by the scrapbooking stuff TWICE).
So, back across the store cursing silently. No matter how efficient I try to be I just don't know the store well enough to avoid backtracking. Screaming kid in the background-- sounds like Godzilla--and I am reminded that it is Wally-World after all. Should have brought my i-pod like my friend Wendy does, but then I might have missed something like that deal on green and lavender rose petals. By God, I love retail!!!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Super Bowl Chickens
OK, I did give in and watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. My husband has been waiting 43 years for this game. I was running late with the food so I missed the first 30 minutes and a lot of the commercials and let him be a couch potato (after all, 43 years is a long time).
I did note, however, a number of commercials involving Chickens!! So what is with the chickens anway? I wish I could tell you that I remember what they actually did in the commercials or what product they were actually advertising, but like I said, I was too busy being the Kitchen Wench.
What is it about the chickens?
IN fact, Chickens are the symbol of ADHD (in fact, there are shirts for ADHD people that say, "Look! A Chicken!") People who are ADHD and ADD are easily distracted, like by chickens on the side of the road. They move rapidly from one unfinished project to another. Come look at my house and you will get the idea.
One of our daughters is ADHD or at least ADD, but we have decided that we are actually ALL ADD or ADHD here in the Wilson home. It just manifests itself differently in all of us. Some of us are more competent than others at hiding their disorders; however, mine is in full view. There is a stack of fabric in the living room next to a big SCA pile of stuff for Ministry of Children and Gulf Wars. There is a pile of unfinished leatherwork in the bedroom (well, it used to be an unfinished kumihimo loom and a bunch of beebees and a scale, so things are improving). There is still a Barbie group on a table in the foyer although it is getting smaller. There are pieces of snowmen on the scrapbooking table that are starting to get dusty as they have been there for two weeks. There are scrapbook bags and things all over the dining room, which is also home to Girl Scout Thinking Day materials. There are bins of DI materials all over the family room and garage, which is also home to DI despite the cold and rain. There are bins of consignment materials in the downstairs office. The Beanie Baby bins just went back upstairs--I'm not dealing with them right now.
In other words, it looks like a bomb exploded and left crap all over the house instead of shrapnel. Other than the fact that it doesn't smell like cats, you walk in and say, "Oh, SCA house!" But then the SCA folks don't usually have all the consignment and kid crap and Destination Imagination and Scrapbooking and Scout Crap and....Yikes! It's actually WORSE than an SCA house. At least the toilets are clean. Well, at least the toilet that guests use is clean.
It's a good thing I can't afford a maid right now because I could never get the house picked up enough right now for her to clean it. If you are planning on visiting us, please give us at least 30 days notice. I'm not kidding. If you want us to entertain, 45 days notice would not be unreasonable.
This is not a scientific dianosis and I don't mean to make fun of those of you who have such a diagonsis. bu we really are an ADHD House. Well, Amelia actually has the diagnosis, but I wanted her to get it it so that she could get extra help and accomodations in school. It wasn't hard-I just filled out the questionnaire honestly, and about 50% of all kids could qualify. However, after reading about three or four books on ADHD as I usually do when I need to learn about something new, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. If you are very smart you are probably ADD or ADHD.
2. If you are very creative you are probably ADD or ADHD.
3. If you are productive sometimes and other times, it's just a CF (email me privately if you don't know what I mean), then you are probably ADD or ADHD.
4. If you have a lot of energy sometimes, and then you just don't, you are probably ADD or ADHD (unless you are manic-depressive, of course!)
5. If some days you are firing on all cylinders and on other days you can't remember your own name, you are probably ADD or ADHD.
6. If you are a perfectionist you also are probably ADD or ADHD but no one may ever know it, and you may be able to avoid being medicated. In other words, you overcompensate for your disorder.
So in other words, I expect that most of you reading this fall into one of the above categories, if not more than one. Welcome to the Chicken house!
We have not designed our devices for the SCA yet but we are thinking that my husband needs a Rooster on his (he is also born in the Chinese year of the Rooster) and then the girls and I need Chickens in some form or another. So he's the Rooster in the Henhouse, so to speak. (Of course if you are an official SCA hearald, please disregard this and believe that we would never pull such a foolish stunt on our official insignia, of course.)
So, here's to all you chickens and roosters out there! And if you can't be a chicken or rooster, hug one today!
I did note, however, a number of commercials involving Chickens!! So what is with the chickens anway? I wish I could tell you that I remember what they actually did in the commercials or what product they were actually advertising, but like I said, I was too busy being the Kitchen Wench.
What is it about the chickens?
IN fact, Chickens are the symbol of ADHD (in fact, there are shirts for ADHD people that say, "Look! A Chicken!") People who are ADHD and ADD are easily distracted, like by chickens on the side of the road. They move rapidly from one unfinished project to another. Come look at my house and you will get the idea.
One of our daughters is ADHD or at least ADD, but we have decided that we are actually ALL ADD or ADHD here in the Wilson home. It just manifests itself differently in all of us. Some of us are more competent than others at hiding their disorders; however, mine is in full view. There is a stack of fabric in the living room next to a big SCA pile of stuff for Ministry of Children and Gulf Wars. There is a pile of unfinished leatherwork in the bedroom (well, it used to be an unfinished kumihimo loom and a bunch of beebees and a scale, so things are improving). There is still a Barbie group on a table in the foyer although it is getting smaller. There are pieces of snowmen on the scrapbooking table that are starting to get dusty as they have been there for two weeks. There are scrapbook bags and things all over the dining room, which is also home to Girl Scout Thinking Day materials. There are bins of DI materials all over the family room and garage, which is also home to DI despite the cold and rain. There are bins of consignment materials in the downstairs office. The Beanie Baby bins just went back upstairs--I'm not dealing with them right now.
In other words, it looks like a bomb exploded and left crap all over the house instead of shrapnel. Other than the fact that it doesn't smell like cats, you walk in and say, "Oh, SCA house!" But then the SCA folks don't usually have all the consignment and kid crap and Destination Imagination and Scrapbooking and Scout Crap and....Yikes! It's actually WORSE than an SCA house. At least the toilets are clean. Well, at least the toilet that guests use is clean.
It's a good thing I can't afford a maid right now because I could never get the house picked up enough right now for her to clean it. If you are planning on visiting us, please give us at least 30 days notice. I'm not kidding. If you want us to entertain, 45 days notice would not be unreasonable.
This is not a scientific dianosis and I don't mean to make fun of those of you who have such a diagonsis. bu we really are an ADHD House. Well, Amelia actually has the diagnosis, but I wanted her to get it it so that she could get extra help and accomodations in school. It wasn't hard-I just filled out the questionnaire honestly, and about 50% of all kids could qualify. However, after reading about three or four books on ADHD as I usually do when I need to learn about something new, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. If you are very smart you are probably ADD or ADHD.
2. If you are very creative you are probably ADD or ADHD.
3. If you are productive sometimes and other times, it's just a CF (email me privately if you don't know what I mean), then you are probably ADD or ADHD.
4. If you have a lot of energy sometimes, and then you just don't, you are probably ADD or ADHD (unless you are manic-depressive, of course!)
5. If some days you are firing on all cylinders and on other days you can't remember your own name, you are probably ADD or ADHD.
6. If you are a perfectionist you also are probably ADD or ADHD but no one may ever know it, and you may be able to avoid being medicated. In other words, you overcompensate for your disorder.
So in other words, I expect that most of you reading this fall into one of the above categories, if not more than one. Welcome to the Chicken house!
We have not designed our devices for the SCA yet but we are thinking that my husband needs a Rooster on his (he is also born in the Chinese year of the Rooster) and then the girls and I need Chickens in some form or another. So he's the Rooster in the Henhouse, so to speak. (Of course if you are an official SCA hearald, please disregard this and believe that we would never pull such a foolish stunt on our official insignia, of course.)
So, here's to all you chickens and roosters out there! And if you can't be a chicken or rooster, hug one today!
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