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!