It's been sort of an odd last couple of days. My youngest has been out of state on a trip, so it's just the old man and I at home. I'm off work for Christmas break, and he is taking off from today until Jan 2. We are not empty nesters quite yet, so it's a new experience. Last night we ate our supper at the table, just the two of us (I gotta get used to cooking for only two) and I thought, this is how it was 32 years ago when we got married. Only we're a lot older. And grayer. And hopefully wiser.
On a different tangent, have you mailed any packages recently? I put together a box to go to my sister in Michigan. It had two very lightweight things in it, plus 3 paperback books. It couldn't have weighed more than 2-3 pounds. (I lost my mailing receipt, so I can't tell you exactly what it weighed.) I took it to Love Box as they offer a plethora of shipping methods to choose from, and the man, after packing it up, says:
Shipping Man: "That'll be 17.60".
Me: (Not sure I heard right) "7.60?"
Shipping Man: (louder) "17.60!"
Me: "What? I'm AGHAST! I'm not paying that to send this box!"
Shipping Man: "Well, that's UPS. Fed Ex is the same price."
Me: (Speechless)
Shipping Man: "You know, I haven't heard the word "aghast" in a long time."
Me: "You should hear it every day with these prices."
Shipping Man: "So whaddya want to do?"
Me: "Ya got anything going by horse and buggy?"
Shipping Man: (not amused) "Parcel Post. That'll cost ya $13.23".
Me: "Is that with delivery sometime next year, no guarantees?"
Shipping Man: "Yes. Delivery 10-14 days, BUSINESS days, (if then), no tracking, no insurance available."
Me: "Sigh".
So the package went Parcel Post. Linda, I don't know when you'll get it, or even IF you'll get it. I had no clue that it cost so much to mail boxes these days. Next time, I'll check out DHL. They drive those bright yellow delivery vans you see everywhere-maybe they are more reasonable.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Celebrating Christmas
Today is Saturday about 2:45 in the afternoon. It is near white-out conditions as the wind continues to howl and the snow continues to blow. Driving around the city is near impossible (as KFDI is reporting.) We have already cancelled church for tomorrow.
Now my thoughts turn toward my husband, getting off work at 5:00, my son-in-law, ending his shift at 3:00, and my son getting off work at 6:00 tonight. I hope everyone makes it home okay. My son called, and asked me to reserve a bed at our "hotel" in case he decides to come home instead of going to his apartment several miles down the road.
I truly have not seen blowing snow like this for several winters that I can remember. Those in western Kansas have drifting and blowing every winter, and have learned to tolerate it, but it's just not that common here in Wichita.
You know what-this would be a good day to write a letter. If you read my post a few days ago, you know that I've decided to try to write to a friend, since her computer lost the hard drive and we are not able to communicate via the information superhighway. And, yesterday, a nice letter from my elderly uncle I wrote about arrived. He apologized in the first paragraph, saying, "I have not forotten you, but I just don't take time to write. Now may be a good time even if nothing great to write about." How nice to hear from him! I may write him a real letter as well.
You know, I haven't written much about Christmas. I don't really know why. I do think about it, but I really try to not get involved in the frenzy that accompanies this holiday. If you were to come to my house, you'd wonder if we even celebrate Christmas. We have no tree, no lights, no decorations, and no packages. We DO have Christmas music on, either from the radio or from the Christmas CDs I have, but that's about it.
I did buy one present, that for my son-in-law, whose name I was assigned in our annual name drawing.
We do celebrate Christmas Eve with a traditional family candle lighting, which beautifully tells the Christmas story. Last year, we did this at the children's home my brother and sister-in-law were working at. This year, it will be just our family, gathered around our table in our small front room.
Here's a thought: Did Jesus command us to celebrate his birthday? Is there anything in Scripture that would suggest we participate in such a celebration? I'm open for comments about this...what do you think?
Now my thoughts turn toward my husband, getting off work at 5:00, my son-in-law, ending his shift at 3:00, and my son getting off work at 6:00 tonight. I hope everyone makes it home okay. My son called, and asked me to reserve a bed at our "hotel" in case he decides to come home instead of going to his apartment several miles down the road.
I truly have not seen blowing snow like this for several winters that I can remember. Those in western Kansas have drifting and blowing every winter, and have learned to tolerate it, but it's just not that common here in Wichita.
You know what-this would be a good day to write a letter. If you read my post a few days ago, you know that I've decided to try to write to a friend, since her computer lost the hard drive and we are not able to communicate via the information superhighway. And, yesterday, a nice letter from my elderly uncle I wrote about arrived. He apologized in the first paragraph, saying, "I have not forotten you, but I just don't take time to write. Now may be a good time even if nothing great to write about." How nice to hear from him! I may write him a real letter as well.
You know, I haven't written much about Christmas. I don't really know why. I do think about it, but I really try to not get involved in the frenzy that accompanies this holiday. If you were to come to my house, you'd wonder if we even celebrate Christmas. We have no tree, no lights, no decorations, and no packages. We DO have Christmas music on, either from the radio or from the Christmas CDs I have, but that's about it.
I did buy one present, that for my son-in-law, whose name I was assigned in our annual name drawing.
We do celebrate Christmas Eve with a traditional family candle lighting, which beautifully tells the Christmas story. Last year, we did this at the children's home my brother and sister-in-law were working at. This year, it will be just our family, gathered around our table in our small front room.
Here's a thought: Did Jesus command us to celebrate his birthday? Is there anything in Scripture that would suggest we participate in such a celebration? I'm open for comments about this...what do you think?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday
Just a short note here-my brother wrote in his blog that there must be something wrong because he's gone a week now without posting-well! I bet I can do that. He is a regular poster, and much more faithful than I am.
We're on the downhill slide to winter break. Today, tomorrow and Friday, then I'm "vacationing" for a week or so.
Congratulations to my youngest, who graduated from WSU on Sunday with a degree in accounting. Now he gets to find a job - from what I hear, it shouldn't be too difficult, but we'll see. He's working part time at the university, but needs a full time position in order to eventually move outta my house. He's also a pretty good musician, and I think would like to devote some attention to that interest as well. I don't care, as long as he makes enough money to support me when I'm in the Baptist old people's home. Which could be any day now.
It's supposed to be 50 degrees today, so all the snow should finish melting. I realized the other day that I didn't get the cannas out of the ground before the first hard freeze, so-there they go. I doubt that they will survive the winter. I was seriously neglectful of the fall yard work. The tomato plants never did get pulled up, and other work should have been done, but wasn't. It'll be waiting for me the first warmer days of spring.
Well, I'll write more in a couple of days. Take care, and here's your joke of the week: What do you call a cranky man that lives in the woods? Here it comes - "Forest Grump".
We're on the downhill slide to winter break. Today, tomorrow and Friday, then I'm "vacationing" for a week or so.
Congratulations to my youngest, who graduated from WSU on Sunday with a degree in accounting. Now he gets to find a job - from what I hear, it shouldn't be too difficult, but we'll see. He's working part time at the university, but needs a full time position in order to eventually move outta my house. He's also a pretty good musician, and I think would like to devote some attention to that interest as well. I don't care, as long as he makes enough money to support me when I'm in the Baptist old people's home. Which could be any day now.
It's supposed to be 50 degrees today, so all the snow should finish melting. I realized the other day that I didn't get the cannas out of the ground before the first hard freeze, so-there they go. I doubt that they will survive the winter. I was seriously neglectful of the fall yard work. The tomato plants never did get pulled up, and other work should have been done, but wasn't. It'll be waiting for me the first warmer days of spring.
Well, I'll write more in a couple of days. Take care, and here's your joke of the week: What do you call a cranky man that lives in the woods? Here it comes - "Forest Grump".
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The sad state of mail
I received a Christmas card from a friend, with a real hand written letter inside. This friend has been in my life for many years now, let's see, I first met her in January of 1976 - that's been more than 30 years! On and off throughout our lives, we've kept in touch and way back many years ago, we used to write letters fairly often. Although we have what some might consider to be a significant age discrepancy (17 years), and our lives have taken very divergent paths, somehow we have managed to maintain an interesting relationship. We've never lived near one another except for that very first year almost 32 years ago.
Anyhow, a couple of years ago, after several years of not having any communication with her, I found her son's email address online (he's a staff member at a church in a neighboring state) and emailed him to see how she was. He contacted her, and she immediately emailed me back. Off we were again, communicating by email and now some phone calls since we both have the same cell phone plan.
However, in the letter she included with her Christmas card, she mentioned that her hard drive had crashed several months ago (I had known that, and had been waiting for her to contact me again when she might have it fixed.) But it was her last statement that caused me to pause in my tracks: "Hope you have a meaningful Christmas and New Years and I don't know when you'll hear from me next. Take care." Hmmm. I was thinking about this and mentioned to my youngest son-you know, people don't write letters anymore. My mother was a letter writer-she regularly wrote to all us kids after we moved away from home, and to her siblings who lived many miles away. When I was in college, I practically LIVED by my little post office box. Many days I received letters from home, either from mom, or, from the boyfriend I was dating at the time. For years my siblings and I wrote in a "round letter", a fat envelope that went from house to house with everyone's contributions in it. I can remember the highlight of my day, even 20 years ago, was getting a letter in the mail. But now, oh my. There are not very many letters in my mail. Every once in awhile, I will get a letter from my elderly uncle, who lives in a town not too far from here. He still writes to his far-away and near relatives. But this past year, 2007, I cannot remember anyone besides him sending me a letter, and it's getting to the point I don't hear from him by letter maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
Does anyone besides me think that there's just something precious that we've lost in our culture when the mail you get includes nothing but advertisements and bills? And that when we have no computer, we have no way to communicate? I'm thinking I'm going to write her back. Perhaps we'll be the only two people in the USA who still send letters, but there's just something about writing down your thoughts. I'm not talking about typing letters, I'm talking about real writing. Like with pen and paper. Does anyone remember how to do that anymore?
Anyhow, a couple of years ago, after several years of not having any communication with her, I found her son's email address online (he's a staff member at a church in a neighboring state) and emailed him to see how she was. He contacted her, and she immediately emailed me back. Off we were again, communicating by email and now some phone calls since we both have the same cell phone plan.
However, in the letter she included with her Christmas card, she mentioned that her hard drive had crashed several months ago (I had known that, and had been waiting for her to contact me again when she might have it fixed.) But it was her last statement that caused me to pause in my tracks: "Hope you have a meaningful Christmas and New Years and I don't know when you'll hear from me next. Take care." Hmmm. I was thinking about this and mentioned to my youngest son-you know, people don't write letters anymore. My mother was a letter writer-she regularly wrote to all us kids after we moved away from home, and to her siblings who lived many miles away. When I was in college, I practically LIVED by my little post office box. Many days I received letters from home, either from mom, or, from the boyfriend I was dating at the time. For years my siblings and I wrote in a "round letter", a fat envelope that went from house to house with everyone's contributions in it. I can remember the highlight of my day, even 20 years ago, was getting a letter in the mail. But now, oh my. There are not very many letters in my mail. Every once in awhile, I will get a letter from my elderly uncle, who lives in a town not too far from here. He still writes to his far-away and near relatives. But this past year, 2007, I cannot remember anyone besides him sending me a letter, and it's getting to the point I don't hear from him by letter maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
Does anyone besides me think that there's just something precious that we've lost in our culture when the mail you get includes nothing but advertisements and bills? And that when we have no computer, we have no way to communicate? I'm thinking I'm going to write her back. Perhaps we'll be the only two people in the USA who still send letters, but there's just something about writing down your thoughts. I'm not talking about typing letters, I'm talking about real writing. Like with pen and paper. Does anyone remember how to do that anymore?
Saturday, December 08, 2007
A moral dilemma, or is it?
It's been awhile since I've written. Every day I think about it, and every day I get distracted or something. It's cold, wet, windy, and sorta miserable here. Some ice is forecast for this evening and through tomorrow. I hate driving on ice. My car is rear wheel drive and we were in a few precarious spots last winter on city streets.
So, did you read about the gas station in Minocqua, Wisconsin? An employee accidently changed the price to 32.9 cents a gallon instead of $3.29 cents a gallon. Uh oh. That's a little bit of a difference. When word spread about the cheap gas, dozens of people flooded the station to fill up. It says: "Word of the bargain spread fast in the rural northern Wisconsin community, with 42 people buying 586 gallons of gas in an hour and 45 minutes." When local police got wind, they called the store manager, who came down and threw the emergency stop on all the pumps. What caught my eye was her statement: "I was very upset that there's that many dishonest people," she said. "They knew there was a problem, and they took advantage of an employee's mistake and I think that's terrible."
So what do you think? Would you have gone down to that station and helped yourself to cheap gas because of a store employee's mistake? Personally, I agree with the store manager. It WAS dishonest for people to do that. I can just hear it now, "...the big oil companies won't miss it...", "...it wasn't MY fault...", "...if you can save a buck or two, why not...", yadda yadda. There IS a standard of decency, even when you deal with "big oil companies". I'm not responsible for what they do, I'm just responsible for my own decisions. And that includes conducting business with integrity.
Let's hear what you think.
So, did you read about the gas station in Minocqua, Wisconsin? An employee accidently changed the price to 32.9 cents a gallon instead of $3.29 cents a gallon. Uh oh. That's a little bit of a difference. When word spread about the cheap gas, dozens of people flooded the station to fill up. It says: "Word of the bargain spread fast in the rural northern Wisconsin community, with 42 people buying 586 gallons of gas in an hour and 45 minutes." When local police got wind, they called the store manager, who came down and threw the emergency stop on all the pumps. What caught my eye was her statement: "I was very upset that there's that many dishonest people," she said. "They knew there was a problem, and they took advantage of an employee's mistake and I think that's terrible."
So what do you think? Would you have gone down to that station and helped yourself to cheap gas because of a store employee's mistake? Personally, I agree with the store manager. It WAS dishonest for people to do that. I can just hear it now, "...the big oil companies won't miss it...", "...it wasn't MY fault...", "...if you can save a buck or two, why not...", yadda yadda. There IS a standard of decency, even when you deal with "big oil companies". I'm not responsible for what they do, I'm just responsible for my own decisions. And that includes conducting business with integrity.
Let's hear what you think.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Can't we do life without numbing ourselves?
Here it is, Saturday morning - and I woke up at 5:32 am. That's right, 5:32. I laid in bed wide awake for almost an hour, then decided to get up. What else is there to do besides write in your blog? I dunno. I hate when this happens. Why can't I wake up at 5:32 on a work day and feel like this? Monday through Friday the alarm goes off at 6:15 and I have to almost literally drag myself out of the bed. I'm sure I will pay the price later for my early rising as I've got a busy schedule today. I've got some errands to run, some cleaning to do, and a "holiday crafts" party to attend. If you know me, you know I'm not a "crafty" person, but this annual get together at our church, I sort of enjoy. I was also invited to a Silpada Jewelry party this morning also, but also if you know me, you know I'm not a jewelry person. I'll let that one go by me, even though one of the selling points in attending this party was stated by the hostess as such: "We're going to be having Mimosas!"
Speaking of parties, and because I'm a member of two schools' families, plans for multiple Christmas parties are being made. I got one invitation which said, "Wine and beer provided. You can BYOB. If you drink, be sure you bring a designated driver." Yeah, count me in. I think I'll celebrate the Savior's birthday by getting blasted along with people I work with on a daily basis. Why is consuming alcohol to excess at any function such a big part of our culture? Do we need that in order to feel like we're having a good time? Weddings, showers, home sales parties, ball games, Christmas, Memorial Day, Labor Day - oh, and let's not forget the end of the school year parties which occur in May during which school staff get together and drink - could somebody explain how this activity has become so engrained in our culture that if you decline to participate, you are viewed as odd or weird? I don't mind an occasional glass of wine (very occasionally, as I am diabetic), but good grief. People who deliberately drink until they are falling down stupid need to get a grip. And stay off the road.
Speaking of parties, and because I'm a member of two schools' families, plans for multiple Christmas parties are being made. I got one invitation which said, "Wine and beer provided. You can BYOB. If you drink, be sure you bring a designated driver." Yeah, count me in. I think I'll celebrate the Savior's birthday by getting blasted along with people I work with on a daily basis. Why is consuming alcohol to excess at any function such a big part of our culture? Do we need that in order to feel like we're having a good time? Weddings, showers, home sales parties, ball games, Christmas, Memorial Day, Labor Day - oh, and let's not forget the end of the school year parties which occur in May during which school staff get together and drink - could somebody explain how this activity has become so engrained in our culture that if you decline to participate, you are viewed as odd or weird? I don't mind an occasional glass of wine (very occasionally, as I am diabetic), but good grief. People who deliberately drink until they are falling down stupid need to get a grip. And stay off the road.
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