Monday, November 30, 2009
THE CASE OF BUY IT FOR MYSELF
Have you seen the ad with the lady that receives the compliment for her pretty red sweater? She states her husband got it for her; her child gives it away saying, "Mommy bought it herself".
Are we in such a need we think we have to gift ourselves? How many people do it?
The other day, someone I know bought a set of dishes saying, "The other's are falling apart". Dishes do not fall apart unless you put them in the washing machine and don't stop the machine before it begins to agitate~~IF it does agitate, it will aggravate the dishes, and yes, then, they will fall apart. :) Trust me, I know. I have first hand experience.
In a recent pictorial review, I saw those lovely Currier and Ives dishes that did not survive the motion of the machine. Just missed stopping it by a nano second.
So, Tom asks if I want dishes. Do you know how many sets of dishes we have?? And do you know what we use? We serve ourselves in the kitchen; family style takes too many dishes. We use glass plates. I change the place mats which made the plates look different. Would like I like place mats? I love place mats.
The problem is, everything rotates. The same place mats are not used all the time. Just like the same earrings~~oops, I take that back. Most people change earrings often, unless one of mine falls out~~which gives me a chance to panic and rejoice when found~~I don't change them.
Which brings me to the last point of today's soap box. If one gifts something to you, isn't it your right to do what you wish with the item? If you do not wear, let's say, a piece of jewelry long term should the other be offended? I don't think so.
Let's quote Ella: "One gets the gift and the other gets the blessing"
e
e
Sunday, November 29, 2009
AT THE MALL
We did walk the mall from end to end last night and carried nothing out with us. It only bottle necked once, at the entrance to Macy's. Most of the people were in the 18-30 group. There were no little children. Other than one other older couple, Tom and I were the only ones.
I am thinking about Ella, who, when shopping, would spend that last nickel on a spool of thread before going home. We won't talk about the price of thread now! Who out there would know? The mall hosts no fabric shops.
There also were not a lot of packages being carried. One would think so, don't you think?
I was reminded of looking in a store called The Jewel Box in Thief River Falls on a snowy-like day in the winter of 1958. The window was decorated with cotton batting with sparkles. The lighting, as you all know, was adjusted to make everything shimmer in the light.
Including in the shimmer was a black onyx ring with a mini diamond set in the center. The setting had an ornate swirl around it. It was, in the eyes of a thirteen year old, the most beautiful and hardest wished for gift of the season. The price? $13.24. Was that too costly to wish for? Should I tell? Who should I tell?
I had that same feeling last night standing in front of a lighted and mirrored display of Swarovski Crystal. That stuff just pulls me into it. I did not leave nose prints but I did have a time pulling myself away.
Now, I had looked at the pieces on line before, because they were featured as an item for a 40th wedding anniversary. It the real they truly sparked, on line, they were just simply beautiful.
Perhaps windows at jewelry stores and crystals are like friendships on line and in the real. Friendships in the real you can see the sparkle but on line one sees the beauty. Think about it.
And press your nose against a wish.
e
Saturday, November 28, 2009
SHOPPING ATTITUDE
I have yet to understand how people who hate to shop, do it on the busiest day of the year. Instead of black Friday it has become bad attitude or black attitude.
Have you done it? Have you camped out or stood in line for hours? Is it a cult thing?
Once upon a time in another life, a car dealership was selling a few cars for a very small amount. The idea was first come first serve so, after getting off the swing shift, we went to the dealership at 1am on a nice summer night and waited for the customer service person to arrive. We didn't know that people had showed up before the dealership closed for the evening and they allowed people to stay in the cars. That means, of course, the cars were claimed several hours before we arrived. And to think I thought that big dog was protecting the car!
That was the Alpha and the Omega of standing in line, sitting on a concrete step, or anything else that is a longer wait than 10 minutes, including restaurants.
Faith went out at 2:30 this morning, a cousin said she got roped into going to a preppy shop, and all the people that came to the optical shop did not go shopping. Yet, the news is everywhere about long lines and unanswered phones. One person I know went for a Wii at 4A, the store opened at five, the line was snake like through the parking lot. Now, I know, $30 is $3o but it is really a buy considering hours of time?
And what about all these bargains. Are they Christmas gifts, or is it a time when people buy something for themselves, clothes for example. And what about the bargain price of x much, which is really the regular price? Are we conned?
Mother and daddy went shopping one night. ONE NIGHT. They bought gifts for everyone on their list, one gift each, and for the most part, shopped at stores that had a service of gift wrapping. Even Ole's Northern Supply.
Let me tell you about it. I got cowboy boots for Christmas one year, a practical and necessary thing. But when I opened them, it was two boots for the left foot. But, daddy called Ole on Christmas morning and he opened the store to get a right boot. Now I could ride with an open stirrup!
Mr. J is home. He does not have a black attitude. He bought himself some sort of an exercise machine to replace the treadmill in the basement which is covered with cobwebs. But, hey, it was on sale.
Chin up, smile.
e
Have you done it? Have you camped out or stood in line for hours? Is it a cult thing?
Once upon a time in another life, a car dealership was selling a few cars for a very small amount. The idea was first come first serve so, after getting off the swing shift, we went to the dealership at 1am on a nice summer night and waited for the customer service person to arrive. We didn't know that people had showed up before the dealership closed for the evening and they allowed people to stay in the cars. That means, of course, the cars were claimed several hours before we arrived. And to think I thought that big dog was protecting the car!
That was the Alpha and the Omega of standing in line, sitting on a concrete step, or anything else that is a longer wait than 10 minutes, including restaurants.
Faith went out at 2:30 this morning, a cousin said she got roped into going to a preppy shop, and all the people that came to the optical shop did not go shopping. Yet, the news is everywhere about long lines and unanswered phones. One person I know went for a Wii at 4A, the store opened at five, the line was snake like through the parking lot. Now, I know, $30 is $3o but it is really a buy considering hours of time?
And what about all these bargains. Are they Christmas gifts, or is it a time when people buy something for themselves, clothes for example. And what about the bargain price of x much, which is really the regular price? Are we conned?
Mother and daddy went shopping one night. ONE NIGHT. They bought gifts for everyone on their list, one gift each, and for the most part, shopped at stores that had a service of gift wrapping. Even Ole's Northern Supply.
Let me tell you about it. I got cowboy boots for Christmas one year, a practical and necessary thing. But when I opened them, it was two boots for the left foot. But, daddy called Ole on Christmas morning and he opened the store to get a right boot. Now I could ride with an open stirrup!
Mr. J is home. He does not have a black attitude. He bought himself some sort of an exercise machine to replace the treadmill in the basement which is covered with cobwebs. But, hey, it was on sale.
Chin up, smile.
e
Friday, November 27, 2009
THE FRIDAY THAT FOLLOWS
Old Trunks is thinking about the Rosewood News. My grandparents motored to Warren to have Thanksgiving with Otto and Loriene. Now, motoring to Warren, which is about 30 miles was a long way back when cars lacked the power of today. It certainly may have been an over night stay.
Let me tell you about Otto and Lorene. Otto was Benhard's half brother. After Seri died, Knute married Kari. There was truly, yours, mine, and ours.
Otto and Lorene lived in a stone house next to the Snake River. It was an open airy sort of house which seemed to have more room that most. It is certain the table was well spread with a host of delicious foods.
Although I am totally for bringing a hostess gift, it generally wasn't done as it wouldn't be long before the Rosewood News in the local paper would say Otto Ranum's of Warren were over night guests of Benhard Ranum's.
It was common in that era to travel, what seemed like a long distance, stay over night to visit and play games, with this foursome, it meant cards; five hundred rummy and pitch were favorites.
It would be interesting what the topics of conversation where at the Thanksgiving table. My guess is there were clanging of silver ware against plates and motions to pass dishes brimming with hot, well prepared food.
As for the day after, left over goods, perhaps stored on the back porch because the fridge was too small OR if not, it cooled faster.
What's on your porch? One kettle on ours.
Leftovers for the weekend.
Extra cranberries frozen for Christmas
Full, vow to never eat again will pass, honest.
Meanwhile waddle as a turkey would.
Black Friday? How about After-the-feast-Friday.
Joy.
e
Thursday, November 26, 2009
THANKSGIVING 2009
It does not have the wonderment for children that Christmas does
It doesn't have the sense of rebirth that Easter provides
It isn't scary like Halloween or loud like the Fourth of July.
Maybe that is why I like it the best. It is a time to just rest in the blessings we have all year. Lest we can wait that long.
Find gratitude daily, just without the turkey. That might be a good journal for the year.
Loving thoughts and peace to all who enter in.
e
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
MACY'S CHRISTMAS PARADE
In the 1920s many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the United States holiday of Thanksgiving with the type of festival their parents had loved in Europe.
In 1924, the inaugural parade (originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade) w s staged by the store. Employees and professional entertainers marched from 145th Street in Harlem to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes.
There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then "crowned" "King of the Kiddies." With an audience of over a quarter of a million people, the parade was such a success that Macy's declared it would become an annual event.
Large animal-shaped balloons, produced by the Good Year in Akron, Ohio, replaced the live animals in 1927 when the Felix the Cat balloon made its debut. Felix was filled with air, but by the next year, helium was used to fill the expanding cast of balloons.
At the finale of the 1928 parade, the balloons were released into the sky where they unexpectedly burst. The following year they were redesigned with safety valves to allow them to float for a few days. Address labels were sewn into them, so that whomever found and mailed back the discarded balloon received a gift from Macy's.
Through the 1930s, the Parade continued to grow, with crowds of over 1 million lining the parade route in 1933. The first Mickey Mouse balloon entered the parade in 1934. The annual festivities were broadcast on local New York radio from 1932 through 1941, and resumed in 1945 through 1951
Television broadcast began in 1939. Now, it is said it is view by 44 million viewers and the entire parade is covered. Color coverage began in 1960.
The route of the parade has been the same since its origin. This year, however, it has changed. It gives the spectators more vantage points. That is called progress. :)
Where will you be when this miracle on 34th Street happens?
e
In 1924, the inaugural parade (originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade) w s staged by the store. Employees and professional entertainers marched from 145th Street in Harlem to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes.
There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then "crowned" "King of the Kiddies." With an audience of over a quarter of a million people, the parade was such a success that Macy's declared it would become an annual event.
Large animal-shaped balloons, produced by the Good Year in Akron, Ohio, replaced the live animals in 1927 when the Felix the Cat balloon made its debut. Felix was filled with air, but by the next year, helium was used to fill the expanding cast of balloons.
At the finale of the 1928 parade, the balloons were released into the sky where they unexpectedly burst. The following year they were redesigned with safety valves to allow them to float for a few days. Address labels were sewn into them, so that whomever found and mailed back the discarded balloon received a gift from Macy's.
Through the 1930s, the Parade continued to grow, with crowds of over 1 million lining the parade route in 1933. The first Mickey Mouse balloon entered the parade in 1934. The annual festivities were broadcast on local New York radio from 1932 through 1941, and resumed in 1945 through 1951
Television broadcast began in 1939. Now, it is said it is view by 44 million viewers and the entire parade is covered. Color coverage began in 1960.
The route of the parade has been the same since its origin. This year, however, it has changed. It gives the spectators more vantage points. That is called progress. :)
Where will you be when this miracle on 34th Street happens?
e
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
BLACK FRIDAY
We have all heard the term Black Friday. We have identified it as a Christmas term meaning the Friday after Thanksgiving. I don't remember hearing the term as a child, do you?
My question for the day is, when did that expression become a hook?
It all started in 1924, that is 85 years ago with the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Well, at least Macy's takes credit for it.
The real skinny on it is this: The term dates back to at least 1966, although its usage was primarily on the East coast. The term has become more common in other parts of the country since 2000. Because Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November.
Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees have the day off which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the holiday weeks beforehand. Many retailers open extremely early, with most of the retailers typically opening at 5AM or even earlier. Some of the larger retailers (depending on the location) such as Sears, Macy's, Best Buy and Walmart, have been reported to open as early as midnight on the start of Black Friday in localized areas and remain open for 24 hours throughout the day until midnight the following Saturday.
Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s.
The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers go from being in the red (i.e., posting a loss on the books) to being in the black (i.e., turning a profit.
With that in mind, I can breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't hear it as a kid because the term wasn't used then. Whew! Thought I missed something!
I suppose we should learn about the Macy's Parade.
Oh, and according to the local paper, Walmart is having a black Thursday in this part of the country. Some how the term just doesn't sound right, does it?
e
My question for the day is, when did that expression become a hook?
It all started in 1924, that is 85 years ago with the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Well, at least Macy's takes credit for it.
The real skinny on it is this: The term dates back to at least 1966, although its usage was primarily on the East coast. The term has become more common in other parts of the country since 2000. Because Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November.
Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees have the day off which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the holiday weeks beforehand. Many retailers open extremely early, with most of the retailers typically opening at 5AM or even earlier. Some of the larger retailers (depending on the location) such as Sears, Macy's, Best Buy and Walmart, have been reported to open as early as midnight on the start of Black Friday in localized areas and remain open for 24 hours throughout the day until midnight the following Saturday.
Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s.
The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers go from being in the red (i.e., posting a loss on the books) to being in the black (i.e., turning a profit.
With that in mind, I can breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't hear it as a kid because the term wasn't used then. Whew! Thought I missed something!
I suppose we should learn about the Macy's Parade.
Oh, and according to the local paper, Walmart is having a black Thursday in this part of the country. Some how the term just doesn't sound right, does it?
e
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