FRUGAL IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

I am beginning a new venture this year. A new take on all the years of New Year’s resolutions that last a very short time….actually my longest time of keeping my resolutions is 4 hours.


What am I resolving….the year of living frugally. Granted frugal means different things for different people. I am not giving up things like cable, DVR, you know, the essentials. The guy who picks up the dog poop. Having someone wash my car. Haircuts at Jet Rhys…uh, uh, not those things.


I just mean being prudent, because after all, my new blog is called FRUGAL IS A FOUR LETTER WORD. If you put your thinking cap on you can figure out the word of which I speak.


My New Year's Resolutions!


1. Buy only by things that I really need

2. Pay my credit cards off.

3. Eat less.

4. Exercise more (anything would be more, let’s face it)

5. Finish projects.

6. EBay what I don’t need.

7. Donate what I can’t eBay.

8. Divest myself of all (OK not all) my unnecessary objects.

9. Open my mind up to being more creative.

10. Paint.

11. Photograph

12. Write

13. Finish my works in progress

14. Use what I have

15. Create

16. Read

17. Blog



Your job…of course you have a job. You are to encourage me to be the best that I can. This is to a good year. I think that this year I can accomplish quite a few of these. I am resolute in my commitment to these goals.



I will continue to blog Good Directions, but I am committed to Blog FRUGAL every day. Every day. That means I will be thinking about it all the time. At this point it is organic (which hopefully does not mean sh…y).

UNCLE JAY EXPLAINS THE NEWS

This is laugh out loud perfect!!! Make sure your volume is on!

CHRISTMAS ROAD TRIP

What would the holiday be without spending some portion of the day with Clifford. Cliff had to work the Christmas Eve and the day after…retail, as we all know, is rough on holidays. So on to the Rosengren-Friedman version of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...PTA without the P and T...but with one of the best scenes ever from a frustrated traveler.



This year I happened to have Christmas eve off, so ROAD TRIP. 600 miles—door to door. A very long 600 miles. We left Tuesday after I got off from work and stopped just outside (one side or the other) of Bakersfield. All I know is that there were cows involved, and the lovely odors that go along with them.

When we got to Chico Cliff still had a couple of hours to work, traffic was insane in little Chico (did I mention it was pouring), so what else would we do but go to our fave the Sin of Cortez for lunch and then Barnes and Noble to await the arrival of the prodigal son. 37 books, 1 tea, 1 coffee, 483 magazines later, Cliff arrived in the rain.

So officially Christmas began for us at 4:30. We went to Casa Cliff, met Ruth Bader Ginsberg Chinchilla, Harvey Two Face the cat, then to dinner at the Raw Bar for Sushi. Grocery shopping, gas shopping, sleep, Christmas gift opening, breakfast at the “Sin of Cortez” and on the road again by 9AM.

Let me recap:

10 hours driving to Chico
1 Motel room in Bakersfield
3 hours at Barnes and Noble
2 breakfasts at Sin of Cortez
1 dinner at RawBar
1 shopping spree at Safeway
10 hours driving to San Diego
and yes
Christmas morning with Clifford—priceless.

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Tis the season...and this season I am amazed by both the generosity of people and, of course, Scrooge-ism.

First, is the story of the man who went into the Burlington Coat factory in Virginia Beach and paid off half of the layaways that contained children's coats. What a fabulous thing to do! I would sooooo love to have the money to do that!!! Can you imagine? Fun, fun, fun!

Second, is a woman in front of me in line at Kohl's who ran out of line and bought a stuffed animal to give to the little girl in front of her in line! The little girl was adorable--wishing everyone a "Happy Christmas!"

Third, the incredible generosity of many of the people in our store who helped out our adopted families. Two people in the dress area gave $220 gift card to Safeway! One person who has only worked with us for a couple of weeks donated a bicycle and helmet (what good is one without the other). The donated $2 here, $6 there. They gave their loyalty money, lunch money, their latte money....it was appreciated!! Two families will have their best Holiday ever!!!

This is the reason for the season!!

TEAVANA

Teavana opened in the mall to great fanfare and excitement. This coincided with my having a sore throat yesterday, which inspired me to go get a wonderful cup of hot tea. Thus the adventure begins....

Teavana is a delightful store. I quote this from their mission statement: "As our name implies, Teavana's goal is to be a heaven of tea and to offer our customers the healthy lifestyle and wonderful tastes of tea. This unique name is meant to describe the experience each customer has with our tea and our staff"

Of course their tea is yummy. They give little samples of their heavenly tea at the door and I fell in love. I went to buy a cup of tea and told the tea hostess that I would like to replicate the recipe, this is where it went downhill. Keep in mind it was busy...here is the dialogue..

"I love this tea, can I get what I need to replicate it?"
"Sure, it is a blend of two teas."
"Great!"
"Minimum purchase is two ounces."
"Great!"
"Pick a tin."
"OK, just the plain one is good"
"Buy three tins, and you get 10% off."
"That's nice"
"We used Jasmine Dragon Pearls, Rooibos Tropica, and we sweetened it with German Rock Cane Sugar."

"Great! Some of that too."
"Your tea is ready and I can take your payment over here."

I hand her my debit card, still preoccupied with talking to my friend, Robert. Sign my bill, take my tea, and head back to work. Now the tea is amazing! Amazing!! Truly!! Amazing!! Did I mention that the tea is amazing??

I look at the receipt for my three tins of tea and it was $121.34. Amazing!! I became semi-hysterical. After all, that is the exact amount of my lunches on my Bloomingdale's bill for the month. $121.34. I sat there looking at the bill as I sipped my tea. Pretty much everything was amazing. Oh, except for Henry....he was ballistic.

After a few hours, I decided to head back down to the store with my purchase and ask what happened.

"I just bought this tea and I am trying to figure out how the bill got to be $121.34?"
"The tins are $6.00 each."
"She did not mention that the tins were $6.00 she just said to pick one."
"You got a 10% discount, and she did not charge you for the tea."
"But I only wanted two ounces, not a whole tin."
"But the tin keeps it fresher."
"I would assume so."
"You got a discount. Your discount is like 10 free cups of tea."
"We do not take returns on tea, but I will make an exception for you this time."
"I really appreciate it."
"Do you have your card."
"Yup."
"Do you have ID?"
"I have my name badge which matches the credit card, and my Bloomies phone (securely held in place on the top of my dress)."
"We need ID."
"You did not need ID to charge me the $121.34."
"We need ID to credit your account, can you go back and get it."
"I am exhausted and sick, I know my drivers license number will that do."
"OK this time, but you will need your ID."
"What is your Driver's License number:
"D258937642." I make up.
"What was after the 9?"
All I could think was that this is a test and she knows I am making it up...46823, I say confidently, hoping she does not notice the discrepancy. I know my library card number but my drivers license...no way. Bloomies card...no way.

In the end I got scolded by a 22 year old, and a $51 credit. Thereby making the tea only $70.34.

They simply need to amend their slogan to:

Opening the doors to Health, Wisdom, Happiness, and the Poor House

Did I mention it is AMAZING tea!! I can hardly wait to try a new combo!!

GIVING THANKS

Well, it is the time of the year that you reflect on things that make you thankful. Although, I think we should do this much more than once a year. Maybe we should get up everyday and think about what makes us happy, or at the very least, what makes us smile (nod to my friend Susan who owns Shandell's and makes "things that make you smile").

What I am most thankful for is that my son is home for Thanksgiving. I am so excited about Thanksgiving that I have pushed away thoughts of no Cliff at Christmas. It has been wonderful to have him home. Last night, we hung out and he cooked that nasty but delicious Carrot/Sweet Potatoe Souffle--now he probably understands why I don't want to make it any more. Oh, yeah, the bad part was the clean up and I still had to do that.

I am thankful that I work in a fabulous place, with wonderful people, and that I get in my Prius (that I am also thankful for) and am smiling thinking about another day at work.

I am thankful for the Curmudgeon, his good heart, his weird shoe choices, his strange nature--most of which makes this blog a possibility. There is ALWAYS something to talk, laugh, smile about. Of course, he does make me nutso--but then I am sure that he would say the same about me.

I am thankful that we live by Betsy, Jacob and Julia, and get to see them so much, and, on the flip side, sad that we don't see Jesse and Jordan more. This picture is in the Kitchen at Buca di Beppo on Betsy's birthday doing the "Grandma Goldie". The GG is when you place your hand on one (or both) sides of your face and pull the extra skin back--used mainly in photographs.

We are thankful that Katie, Mark, Seth, and Jack are well--and sad that they are soooooo far away. When Jack gets upset he storms off to his room and all you hear is is violin--you can tell just how upset he is by what he plays (tell me that is not cute, how do you stay mad at something like that???)

And I am thankful for our good friends (and Henry's ex-wife) Judy and Kurt. What is making me smile right now is the ability to put this picture in my blog.

I am thankful that Transporter 3 starts tonight and that Clifford is going to see it with me.

THE RITUAL

We all have rituals. They are what keep order in our lives. Some turn into "issues"--like people who count the paper clips and line them up in their drawers, or re-straighten the fringe on the rug and all of the blinds in the house when arriving home (dound familiar). All of us think that our little rituals are normal. We all think our friends rituals are quirky.

Mine: When I go to bed every night I (in this order) put lotion on my legs. I put Shea it isn't So foot cream on my feet and rotate them into bed (from this point forward I do not leave the bed).
I then put Clinique's Aromatics Elixir on my arms, convinced that this aroma helps me sleep. I put Clairin's Lip Cream on lips. Mentholatum in the nose area (thereby negating the possibility of smelling the Aromatic Elixir. Molton Brown Hand Cream (mmmmm). Sleep.

Henry's ritual involves the Chargers: The day before the game he drives his car down to his very favorite parking place. Then he either: A. takes a bus home, B. gets a ride home, or C. he takes the trolley to Fashion Valley and rides home from work with me. He does this because it is the only way he can get his favorite parking spot.



The day of the game he either:
A. Rides to Quizno's with his friend Ken, eats Q at 8 in the AM and then takes the Trolley to the Q. B. He rides with me to work and takes the trolley. C. He takes a bus to Fashion Valley and then takes the Trolley. D. He talks me into taking him to the game (today).

The best, is that he does all of this so that he does not have to deal with traffic leaving the stadium.

Quirky or Normal---you be the judge! At the very least you could say he minds his P's and Q's.

Henry Ray

I have not had two days off in a row for quite some time. The difference--added time with Henry. Finding out what he is doing while I am off toiling in the coal mines day after day.

Henry's life is full--working, TV, computer games, TV, golf, TV. Yesterday, I came home to find him sitting in front of the TV (shocker) watching Rachel Ray (serious shocker). He is watching her make a 60-minute Thanksgiving dinner.

In the beginning he was focused on whether or not she had "work done". I said for God's sake the girl is mid-30s I doubt it. Then his focus shifted downward--no, not to where you think...to the Turkey.

The next thing I know he is recording it. Then pointing out the errors--a few harsh words to Rachel. "You said skinless, and now you are putting the herbs under the skin. Didn't she? Let me rewind it and you see if she does not say skinless!" (Yes, she did by the way)

Up he leaps in a flash. I asked what he was doing. He was off to the store to get stuff for dinner. He and Rach preparing a meal. "Buckle your seatbelts, it is going to be a bumpy night.

As he returns, I remain seated. "Do you need help?" "NO!" Next all I hear is rustling and shuffling through doors and cabinets. "Do you need help?" "NO!"

Now comes the quiet. I finally turn around and see Henry staring at the blender, he turns to me and says--"It doesn't look the same." I reply, that is because it is the blender and not the food processor.

Rumbling, crashing, ensues. Quiet. "It doesn't work!" Sure it does I say. "It DOESN'T work" he sais, even more frustrated. I get up--each piece of the machine that I add he pushes the button and says "It DOESN'T work" (what is the definition of insanity again??) I put the bowl on (correctly), "It DOESN'T work", the blade in, "It DOESN'T work", the top on, "It DOESN'T work", and finally, the chute in, "IT WORKS!" I advise him it is so he doesn't process his fingers into the mix.

I sat in my chair worrying that he would grate his hand (micro-plane), cut his fingers off (knives)...but you know what...

HE MADE A FABULOUS MEAL!!!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

"Change has come to America."

OZ

Election day is finally here!! I am soooo glad that it will be over by tomorrow--no more ads For/Against Props 2 and 8...much less the rest!

Someone sent me this picture...thought it was too much fun not to share!

CREATIVITY AND CLEANING...

...mutually exclusive???

I used to create...it could happen again. I have included some pictures to remind me of the things that inspired me...Barbara Chapman's fabulous doll, as well as things inspiring around my house. Now I need to create my studio.

There is an infamous room in my house. Quite infamous actually. I have been "working on it" for 8 years. I have finally decided that the only way to work on it is with the help of a dumpster...no make that a group of teamsters.

This is a very large room 17 x 20 I believe. A perfect place for me to have a studio....in that fashion every room in the house will not have to be a "temporary" workspace. That being said, I must sort through to make sure that I throw out nothing important. I have found things that made me cry (photo of Andy, card from Samantha to Clifford), things that made me smile (Susan Schneider lighting the candles with Clifford), and things that take me back to wonderful times (my first collage artwork under the watchful tutelage of Vicki Fish).

That, dear friends and critics, is why it takes me soooo long to accomplish this task that seems so simple to everyone else. Everything I find is a detour through my life.

I feel that once I get this room cleaned out, my creativity will begin again....and make no mistake I miss it!

BY REQUEST BROG

What is a BROG you ask?? A combination of bragging and blogging. It is by request because it was requested.

I have spent a good portion of my existence making fun of Henry's inability to do anything remotely handy. Like the first day I opened my store, I'm in Stitches, and he wanted to change the switch plate on the wall by the front door and we had no electricity for two hours. . .or the fact that every electrial applicance in the house would be flashing 12:00 if I did not change them. . .or the fact that until he met me he did not think "normal" people painted a house, you called someone. Now that I am thinking about it, I remember the time he and the neighbor behind us replaced the door to outside on the house in Massachusetts and there was a two inch gap at the bottom. I kept a towel there to keep the snow, cold, leaves, and small animals from entering. Or the time, he asked the neighbor to borrow the chain saw, and the neighbor waited until he left and came over and offered to do the work rather than let Hen touch a chainsaw.

So, I am here to refute these statements. Henry has repaired something. He has replaced a tube on the refrigerator enabling the proper functioning of the icemaker. Something that has been broken for a month. He did an incredible job. He is VERY proud (as he should be). The one thing that he has not considered. Now that I am aware that he is capable. Here is the Honey Do list that I have been waiting my whole life to give him:

• Laundry room needs painting.
• New light fixtures over sink in bathroom
• New smoke detector (since it never went off during the fires)
• Fix dripping faucet
• Put soap in soap dispenser under sink in kitchen

Oh, my God.....how much fun is this!!! The photo is Henry resting after the big day!! Dreaming of a time the Chargers might actually learn how to play footbal....or perhaps change their name to the retreaters.

GOLDIE FRIEDMAN FRIEDMAN

Goldie Friedman Friedman passed away in her sleep today at 91 years of age. It was the end of an era. A woman who lived for her husband, Melville Friedman, and her children, Henry and Nancy. She was kind, generous, and always a lady.

She was a beautiful woman, and she will be missed by all who had the honor to know her. She and Mel will now be together in whatever afterlife there is...soulmates forever.

MY HEART SINGS...

A few weeks ago I told you about an organization called "Second Chance". We were collecting clothes for this organization to help them prepare to reenter the workforce. As with any fundraising event, you are relying on people to give from their heart what they can afford to share...in this case approximately 1,000 pieces of clothing from our generous employees at work. It was a tremendous response.

Part 2 of this program was a makeover session at the store. I began "pressuring" people into donating their time to assist in this makeover process. I have done many fundraising events, and everyone is with you from the get-go, and then they are "busy" or realize that "donating" means you do not get paid for time at the event. So people drop out. I always try to arrange for more people than necessary due to the "fall out" quotient. To my shock and amazement, more people showed up than I had counted on to volunteer, and more people from Second Chance showed up to be made over.

At 8AM today they arrived to be greeted by the Senior Management team; Lisa, Greg, and myself represeted the Junior team; and a cast of Sales Professionals all prepared to impart knowledge in the areas that they knew best.

The gang from cosmetics: Ashley and Amy from Bobbi Brown, Jill from Chanel, Rita from Lancome, and Anita from Laura Mercier. All did makeovers...but more than that they showed them how to go anywhere, a drug store, Target, anywhere, and select the appropriate colors for themselves and how to apply makeup so that they looked professional. What an amazing thing to see!



Eden from Handbags and Jerome from Domestics were working together cutting hair (who knew?)! A new person from handbags even tagged along to assist them in any way she could!

I was going for a haircut October 17th....with things as they are currently Jerome may be cutting my hair in my office.






We had a station set up for a little one on one to discuss interviewing skills. This was done with Denise from Petites, and Stephanie from Handbags.

Then they went straight to the "dress for success" experts: Kathleen, Greg, Miguel from New View, and Jared from Men's Denim. Anything from how to tie a tie to how to select an outfit that will separate you from your competition.



Where was I you ask---with Stephen driving the donated clothes to Encanto to the Second Chance training area (by the way a tremendous facility) in Kathleen's 22 year old pick-up truck ("pay no attention if it makes a strange noise while you are turning").

Fundraising is like childbirth, painful getting to the finish line, but what a wonderful gift at the end...and, by next year, I will be happy to volunteer again. It was a tremendous day, and people's incredible giving spirit made my heart sing!!

You would hire her wouldn't you????

WHEN CATHI MET HENRY

29 years ago today I met Henry. I had just moved to the Miami area and the lady next store in my apartment building asked me to be her "date" at a Hartmann dinner. I went to the dinner, and in walked this handsome man on the arm of a not so handsome woman. I announced to the Plantation Bentley's store--"I want him for Christmas with a big, red bow!" An introduction was made...all he said was "I am sick, who are you?."

Well, the team at Bentley's went to work, and he called that next week. We went on a look see date at an IHOP where (hey big spender) he bought me a diet coke and talked about his wonderful children for 2 hours.

One and a half weeks later I arrived home from having my nails done and all of his stuff was in front of my door. I called my friend Andrea and said what should I do....she said for God's sake, give it a try. In he moved, we were married May 16th 1980.

He is still talking about his kids...when we married they were 8, 9, and 10. Now their kids are that age.

NUCULAR...

...it is not a word. Did Sarah Palin go to the George Bush allocution instructor? The word is nuclear...

/ˈnukliər, ˈnyu- or, by metathesis, -kyələr/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciationnoo-klee-er

you can get a pronunciation verbally here

Why is this word so difficult...if you just look at it it makes sense.

She did do better than I (or anyone) expected...then she said nucular and I quit listening. She was charming...reminded me of a neighbor, which is just where I want her...in the hood--not in the oval, square, trapezoid, or any other shape office.

CLOSET CLEANOUT

Today was the day to get everything out of the closet to donate to our chosen charity at work, Second Chance.

Second chance has a program that teaches people how to interview, how to put on makeup, how to tie a tie....basically, how to get a job. Of the people they graduate, 0% find jobs, and of the people who find jobs 70% of them keep them for 2 years. Not bad stats. This is an incredible organization, obviously it must be if it could motivate me to do the closet cleanout.

Now my closets are legendary. I never throw anything out. Why? I had someone, a professional, go through my closets in 1983, 25 years ago. I still mourn every piece of clothing of which she disposed. I still see myself in my dreams walking along the beach in my gorgeous Ralph Lauren linen baby blue dress....barefoot (I said it was a dream...you know I have an aversion to bare feet as well as sand). My hair is blowing in the wind. I actually fit in the dress (size 6)--see I said it was a dream. Why am I fixated on this dress...because I no longer have it.

It was a walk down memory lane. As I picked up every article of clothing, I reminisced. Where I wore it...for those things that were worn. Where I bought it...for those things still with tags on them. What was I thinking? Did I really wear a 10" long plaid skirt while in my 30's? Reyn Spooner...Hawaii-brain.

Shoes are another thing in the collection...I donated 30 pair. Still managed to keep Chanel shoes that have never fit and never been worn. Vintage Maud Frizon that are gorgeous. They haven't been worn since 4 years prior to Cliff (who is 19). Who could give them up....


My closet still has tons of stuff that I will probably not wear but cannot separate from emotionally. The dress that I wore to Betsy's rehearsal dinner--she divorced Jeff but I cannot divorce myself from the dress. Go figure.

Well most of it is gone now. Except for Geiger, YSL, Ralph Purple Label, Guy Laroche, Chanel, Mario Valentino, and Romeo Gigli. They are in sizes running from 4-to current undisclosed. One must have some memories.

Let's move on to the items with tickets. Hmmmm. Then there is the debate. Do I return the items still in the bags from Nordstrom with the tickets on them. "I was going to lose weight." "It has only been 4-7 years ago." Do you think that they would mind? As nice as they normally are, they are not especially nice when you are returning something 7 years old. In 2000, I was unpacking when we moved here, and I found a whole collection of clothing unworn, with tags. I called Nordies and they said, it doesn't matter how old it is...bring it back. That was the last pleasant memory of the event I had. You hand over the merchandise and it begins. "I need help!" they yell. "We don't even have this department any more." At that point you want to grab it from the Sales Professional's hand and skulk to your car. Then she yells again, and you dig in your heels. For heaven's sake, you bought it there. You lost it. You found it. You are returning it. It is no big deal to her, except a story to tell in the break room. I stood there patiently, grabbed my $364.87, and left. If I had a tail, trust me, it would have been between my legs. I remember telling her that it was a cute outfit...I was sure someone would buy it...after all I had. Thinking back...maybe I will wait another few months before I put on a baseball cap and return my collection.

The closet looks a lot different now. As is befitting an employee of Bloomingdales, one entire rail is filled with black suits, separated by a solid color shirt so that in zero dark hundred when I get dressed the pants will match the suit.

Life is good.