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Post by stepper on Nov 25, 2015 21:18:36 GMT -6
Well, hopefully someone will have a stroke of genius and relieve the pressure.
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 25, 2015 22:14:35 GMT -6
I hope so. It's driving me bonkers. Which I'm sure was Phalon's reason for involving us.
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Post by stepper on Nov 26, 2015 11:21:41 GMT -6
No doubt that's the reason, and it's working.
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 26, 2015 15:01:53 GMT -6
Yes, it is. And when I get a song in my head, I swear it's the one, but I can't be sure because I have to keep the song on rotation until I can write it down ... and then I play the other song in my head, and I get disappointed because it isn't quite the one. Here's what I got this morning:
I think my brain hears bits and pieces of these songs in the One Direction song, but still not the one whole song I'm hearing.
And now I'm hearing One Direction's lyrics, so I guess it's time to take a break and hope my brain figures it out without my help.
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Post by stepper on Nov 26, 2015 20:17:17 GMT -6
So far one person thought it maybe sounded like Hughie Lewis, but didn't offer a specific song, and another person said You have a Friend in Me from Toy Story but I don't heard that one at all.
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 26, 2015 22:38:45 GMT -6
Too full to care at the moment. Maybe tomorrow I'll give it more thought.
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Post by stepper on Nov 27, 2015 12:17:19 GMT -6
Full? That was hours ago. Time for a refill on those "left overs"! I'm going to be eating turkey for days!
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 27, 2015 22:28:54 GMT -6
Maybe hours ago for you. Not for me. It was around 7pm when we ate.
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 27, 2015 22:37:17 GMT -6
I was listening to DirecTv channel 837 ... Classic Hits Blend and this song came on ... and now I'm just grasping at straws just to put myself out of my misery.
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Post by stepper on Nov 28, 2015 18:26:41 GMT -6
Still feasting on turkey (YEAH!), but Steppet wanted a couple things from the stores around here. Surprisingly, the grocery stores were just as busy as usual but it seemed that everyone was still Black Friday shopping - except that they left their good humor with the original stores. Nothing but crowds, shortages, and mostly bad moods.
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Post by Spock on Nov 28, 2015 20:11:49 GMT -6
- except that they left their good humor with the original stores. Nothing but crowds, shortages, and mostly bad moods. That's why tomorrow will be the first day we leave the house ... if then. I want to pick up some mailing labels and both cars need gas. If the roads are still crowded or there are unruly crowds, we are going home without spending anything. We can wait a few more days.
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Post by Phalon on Nov 29, 2015 9:57:08 GMT -6
Same here - that's why it's so frustrating. The song runs around in my head, I start picking up bits of another song, but then One Direction's lyrics take over, and the other song is "History" - literally and figuratively.
(Speaking of which - have you ever seen the television show "Drunk History"? Funny stuff.)
I mentioned that BP said the band says the inspiration for the song came from "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story, but like you, I don't hear it at all. Since the "news" came from band "tweets", I suspect that person is a closet One Direction fan (there are many of them, you know), or has daughters.
Hughie Lewis though - maybe there's something to that:
So that's what happened...everyone is down there! There was a dismal turnout at the Holiday Market yesterday - I sold only 1/3 of what I brought, and consider that a success in comparison to the other vendors; I actually got a lot of repeat customers from previous years, who know I'll be there, but many of the others left without selling a thing! It's not that the people who came didn't buy anything, just that hardly anyone came. Same news from our town, and the other tourist town in the area, Saugatuck, which is north of here - Thanksgiving weekend is usually packed with shoppers, but apparently both towns were dead as doornails yesterday. Weird.
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Post by stepper on Nov 29, 2015 19:53:46 GMT -6
Okay – I’m switching to quick answers because the power has unexpectedly gone out twice this evening. We had a brown out T-Day which was also I surprise. I’ll try this again. Nope. What drove you to this show? This doesn't surprise me at all - because they all belong in the closet. Here, that was mostly due to the cold and rain, but 'dismal turnout' happened fairly widely from what I've heard. Something about a lot of people changing to shopping on-line; even the stores around here are reporting a noticeable drop of in-store customers. Is there another chance to sell the Christmas wreaths? Or perhaps an ad in the local paper – while supplies last?
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 29, 2015 23:05:29 GMT -6
Never heard of it.
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Post by Phalon on Nov 30, 2015 7:20:18 GMT -6
LX, of course. She and I were up late Thanksgiving night after everyone had gone to bed, playing cards - for some reason we wanted to see if "War" could actually be won, and after dozens of hands, decided it couldn't, which somehow turned into a conversation about history, and she asked if I'd ever watched "Drunk History". Never heard of it, so we watched a couple of episodes "On Demand". It's basically like any show you'd see on the History Channel, with a narrator, and actors reenacting a piece of history....except the narrator is a celebrity who the host has gotten drunk, and the reenactment actors mouth exactly what the drunken celebrity has narrated. It's on Comedy Central. Here's Paget Brewster (who played my favorite Criminal Minds past character) explaining the history of the bra. PG13 advisory for language. www.cc.com/video-clips/w25not/drunk-history-inventing-the-bra Not wreaths - arrangements, like centerpieces and mantel or porch decorations; I've handmade wreaths before, and they're a pain-in-the-ass...and fingers, to make. There's one more weekend of the Holiday Market - it's for two Saturdays this year instead of one, so what I didn't sell is down in the unheated basement, staying fresh for next week. I've got a dilemma though - I sold all of the berry bunches, so I've got to cut more. One customer brought back the basket she bought from me last year, and asked if I'd refill it - it's a huge thing - over 2ft x 2ft, and I told her when I sold it to her, I'd refill it for half-price. I don't have enough greenery left to do that, so I've got to cut more of that too. Since I have to go out and cut more stuff, do I make any more arrangements to fill the table for next week in anticipation the second week will be better than the first? Sigh. I like a full table, so I probably will.
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Post by Spock on Nov 30, 2015 17:47:30 GMT -6
I tried your link and got an error message:
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Post by stepper on Nov 30, 2015 19:51:33 GMT -6
It can, but what you need is people who have no life of sense of worth so they will stick to it until someone actually wins. Of course with only two playing it takes longer, but it can be done. Then you run into people who, if they lose, want to play "one more game."
That would be my option so it's almost certainly the wrong choice, but I'd do it anyway. The "problem" being your repeat business showed up for the last showing, so is a full table the right option? Do you usually sell out? Maybe subtract some of that full table, but have enough to make it look like your serious about selling arrangements and not there to unload stuff that didn't sell last weekend.
Know what I mean? Balance between full load with lots of work and sore fingers, but enough to tempt people with the extra dollars to stop and check out the goodies.
That happens to me once in a while too.
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 30, 2015 23:48:13 GMT -6
The video is no longer available. I found a small clip on YouTube though.
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 30, 2015 23:52:51 GMT -6
Phalon: Have you ever thought of using Etsy?
www.etsy.com/
Or maybe set up a holiday blog just for the holiday season?
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Post by Phalon on Dec 1, 2015 7:57:41 GMT -6
Shame - it was funny. That seems to happen frequently with recently aired television programs. I noticed both the Good Morning America, and Jimmy Kimmel YouTube performances of "History" that we posted are no longer available. Old stuff though, is still out there.
It's really a crap shoot - it varies year-to-year. Used to be that whatever didn't sell at the market, I'd take to my friend's Christmas tree farm....and mark them all up $15 before I got there; more affluent clientele in that area, and I'd sell out. Sadly, she passed away last fall, and I am not going to bother her husband with such things. Last year, even without the tree farm business, I nearly sold out at the market; I just had two left - one for my dining room table, and the other for my front porch.
Even what sells isn't consistent. Sometimes, the smaller arrangements go quickly; other times it's the large ones. This year, old kitchenware (I use anything that can hold water or can fit a liner that holds water) seems to be the hot thing - those silver or copper-colored metal Jello mold things (I think that's what they are), an old beat-up flour sifter, a big metal colander all sold. Maybe I'll make a few more of those type arrangements. And oh, I've got a low, old metal birdbath that would make a great porch decoration.
I suppose it really doesn't matter - my only expense in this is cost of the booth and the Oasis (wet-floral foam - which does get expensive). I've already recouped those costs and more, so anything else is gravy.
Side note - I gave one of the larger baskets that didn't sell on Saturday to the new neighbors across the street on Sunday as a combination "Welcome to the Neighborhood; I'm sorry" gesture. They weren't home, so I left it on their front porch with a note. They just moved in coincidentally the day Mom's house closed, and I have to say the woman and I got off to kind of a wrong foot start. I had let the dog out late one night last week, and was standing on the front porch waiting for her. She always goes to the same spot - our parkway. Directly across the street while she's doing 'her thing', the woman comes out their front door with two dogs, which startled Quetta, who in turn starts her "I am Quetta, hear me bark" routine. This freaks out the woman, who starts yelling "Go home!" in a sharp tone over and over, not realizing the dog is home, is completely friendly and is just greeting the newcomers to the neighborhood. She quickly takes her dogs back inside, but I can hear her b!tching about how stupid people let their damned dogs run loose. Her reaction was understandable - it's dark, there's a big black dog barking right across the street, and she could not see me standing on the porch. I don't know if she heard me b!tching back at her in my sarcastic b!tch voice that my "damned dog" was home, and not running loose, before she shut the door; I immediately felt bad.
So. There's a knock on the door yesterday, and when I opened it, there's a woman standing there with a huge Christmasy container in her hands; I start wondering what the hell fundraiser I've ordered from that I've forgotten about. But no, it's the new neighbor woman who I've never seen in the light of day, with fresh-from-the-oven still-warm oh-so-good oatmeal raisin cookies - three dozen of them! Very, very nice woman....but three dozen cookies!
I had a couple last night, (along with the one I had while they were still warm!); oh-my-god, probably the best oatmeal cookies I've ever eaten. But like the apple pie from Thanksgiving, they've got to go. Bagged up the rest this morning, put them in BP's backpack, and gave her strict instructions to give them away at school, even if she had to stop random people in the hallway to do so.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 1, 2015 8:01:05 GMT -6
Nah. Then I'd have to worry about shipping...and have no idea how or even if, a fresh arrangement could be shipped.
I should get "business" cards made though; people always ask for "my card". If seems as if everyone's got a business card these days, even if they don't have a business.
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Post by Spock on Dec 1, 2015 12:26:40 GMT -6
... I should get "business" cards made though; people always ask for "my card". If seems as if everyone's got a business card these days, even if they don't have a business. If you go to your local stationary store (I use Office Depot) and get some Avery Business Card blanks, you can download a program from avery.com that will help you to create your own business cards. I use my word processor instead but the Avery program is designed to work with all their labels. I like printing my own business cars because I can print bunches of 10 whenever I feel like it rather than having to decide if I can afford 100 or more commercially printed cards. It's also more convenient in that I can make changes to the content any time I feel like. I just used the Avery program to create some 2" x 4" labels to customize containers of my wife's homemade cookies she gives out at irregular intervals.
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Post by stepper on Dec 1, 2015 21:01:52 GMT -6
I've seen that happen too. I'm convinced it's intentional, and personal. There's a web Imp who's jealous about my relationship with our Halloween Imp.
I don't shoot craps - I'm a guaranteed loser. But being able to take them to the Christmas tree farm was a lucky thing and I'm sorry about your friend, but are you sure about her husband's reaction to not having them? He may not care, or he may not want to experience the change in this memory yet, or you may be right on. Have you talked to him about how he's doing and what he wants? Personally, I tend to clam up and separate myself (and my bad mood which is better left unshared) from the world.
I thought you were going to say Crazy Shirley got them.
But it's good gravy.
BOLL! Maybe she did hear you and those are revenge.
With the environment in today's schools I'm surprised they didn't suspend her for giving out unapproved food.
Actually, that's not a bad idea, and as Spock says, you could make your own or purchase them in small quantities and make them appropriate to what's happening at the moment. Or make one that's more generic since the idea is they want to contact you - "Articles and Designs by Phalon" or "Arrangements and Articles."
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Post by Phalon on Dec 2, 2015 6:20:37 GMT -6
Oooo! Thanks, Spock. I like the idea that you can print them in small numbers; I helped Xena Sis create business cards using one of those on-line service for her seamstress business last year - the smallest number we found that any service would print was 250 cards. That was fine for her, but for what I'd be using them for, I'd never get rid of half of those. Changing the content would be great too; different cards for different reasons and seasons!
Definitely something to look into....soon maybe, like when (if?) I get a laptop. I doubt my archaic computer can accommodate a large download.
I never really knew him personally, other than he was my friend's husband. I talk to him occasionally, though - he'll come into the nursery every now and then (she used to work there part time). He came in shortly before we closed this fall, and I asked him if he was opening the Christmas tree farm this year - he's got a full-time corporate job, and the tree farm was her gig. She loved Christmas, and went all out at the farm during Christmas tree season - hot chocolate and warm cider in the "Christmas barn" by the fire, "Santas helpers" which were high-school kids she employed to drive John Deere Gators to take people out to cut their own trees, and bring them and the trees back, evening get-togethers in the barn and all kinds of warm, homey stuff; it was much, much more than just cut trees. She loved that farm (she insisted before she died, that her funeral would be a huge barn party). He's continued the Christmas tradition, but I know last year it was with a heavy heart, and a whole lot of help from friends and family. He's opening again this season, but I just really don't want to bring up the arrangement stuff - I dunno, it seems selfish somehow.
I hadn't thought about that, but you're probably right. Nowadays, I even have to write a permission note that she's required to turn in at the office, if she so much as has cough drops in her backpack.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 16, 2015 10:04:30 GMT -6
Oh! Seven more posts 'til this thread meets the cut-off and is locked, and the key tossed down the kitchen sink drain for the sewer bunnies to fight over for evermore. Start another then, or continue on in the Neverending thread?
In the meantime, some recent Kitchen Sink News (to further our 1,500 post limit):
On the Domestic Front: Hubs' beard, normally neat and trimmed, he lets grow unruly in the winter - we all constantly tease him about this because it looks...well, it looks icky. The other morning he's in the kitchen as he's getting ready to leave to drop BP off at school on his way to work, fluffing and stroking it with great exaggeration, just so I'll notice and say something. So I did. "You need to cut that thing. It looks icky."
Less than a minute after they walk out the door, I get a text from BP. "You know he was messing with his beard so you'd notice he's wearing his wedding ring. He's been waiting for four days for you to notice."
Crap! Hubs' hasn't worn his ring in probably 15-20 years; it never fit right, sliding up and down his finger below the knuckle and he'd actually get blood-blisters from it pinching his skin. I never minded him not wearing it, but am touched he put it back on. And kicking myself for not noticing.
In the Cute and Furry Department (which does not pertain to Hubs' beard, because although it's furry, it'd definitely not cute): BP and I are official. A a few weeks ago we completed our training and are now Official Local Humane Society Volunteers (which is just a title I made up and capitalized so it looks official). This is actually her gig, but because she's underage, she requires an adult family member to be with her. We go in once or twice a week to socialize the cats, and walk the dogs (and do laundry when needed). So far I've come home wheezing and have had to use my inhaler (after scouring the house for it because I haven't had to use it for years); I'm allergic to cats, especially long-haired cats, and one of them attaches itself to me, probably hoping it can catch a ride home and move in. Though the cat stayed at the shelter, I believe a flea or two may have caught a ride home and moved in. Got dog sh!t all over the floorboards of my car from the field we run the dogs in; learned that day to wear old shoes and bring plastic bags to put them in before getting into the car. Multiple scratches up and down my legs which swelled nicely because they are much more appealing to the kittens than the climbing post provided. Yesterday, the dog fields were wet after all the rain we've had, and we ended up covered in mud as well as dog sh!t. The reward for all of this is going in and seeing an "ADOPTED" signs on one of our favorites' cages! Yesterday, there wasn't just one, but three signs! Whoo-hoo!
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Post by stepper on Dec 16, 2015 19:59:41 GMT -6
Sewer bunnies? Where the heck did that come from?
Your thread, your call. But we don't know if the never ending thread really is never ending. That's why there's a warning about saving any important posts. So perhaps a repeat - but without sewer bunnies this time - is appropriate. Honestly, does it matter?
Wait - BP noticed it days ago? And didn't say anything to you about it? Doesn't that violate the coalition of Girls Against Guys, Men, and their Expectations (GAG-ME)? Or do you suspect Hubs pointed the ring out to BP so that she'd mention it? And, why?
Long story short, due to a paper-wasp sting just past a knuckle my finger swelled a bit and my ring had to be cut off. After a few months Steppet let me know that she understood the circumstances, and didn't care what it cost me so long as I got the ring repaired and back on my finger. Hint Hint.
Congratulations - something I'm sure Scrappy shares with you - that happy moment when you realize another one has been adopted.
The Egyptian Geese came by again but they didn't wait for dinner. By the time I got the bird food out they had wandered around the corner.
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Post by Spock on Dec 16, 2015 21:36:48 GMT -6
Re: Possible end of the "Everything including the Kitchen Sink" topic I used to have that trouble. There is a simple expedient that allows you to "continue" a topic while never allowing one to get over-large. - Create new "Everything including the Kitchen Sink, Part 2" topic. Just make an "Under construction" post initially, more on this later.
- Copy link to new topic.
- Lock the old topic.
- As the Administrator, use your Godly power of being able to post to a locked topic. This may require you to "quote" a post and then erase everything in it to make the last post.
- Create a "Last post" for the old topic saying the it is being closed but you may go to the new topic to continue ... don't forget to insert the link you copied above.
- Go to your new topic and edit the first post to point back to the beginning of the previous topic(s). If you are creating a "Part 3" or a "Part 4" it is extremely polite to copy all previous links to the beginning of the old topics into the first post of the new topic, so they may all be easily found if desired.
Just a possible suggestion.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 17, 2015 4:38:03 GMT -6
From the sewer, of course. You know, sewer bunnies....they are cousins to dust bunnies, but instead of living in corners and under beds, collecting dog and cat hair, they live in old rusty drains and collect guck. Sheesh, the way you protest seems as if you think I made up a word on a whim just to suit whatever it was I was thinking at the time....which, of course, I would never, ever do.
No time to play this morning; I'm off at some ungodly hour to take Xena Sis to the airport in Grand Rapids, which fortunately is not the ungodly hour of now, but an hour from now. Just enough time to pump some more caffeine into my sleepy veins.
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Post by stepper on Dec 17, 2015 17:00:46 GMT -6
Oh! Yeah, I remember. They've left me furry little knots of their hair in the plumbing!
No way, never. But you might be willing to make people aware of words which they may not have previously experienced.
Surely you have a coffee sippy cup that's safe for vehicles!
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Post by Spock on Dec 18, 2015 9:45:11 GMT -6
... Surely you have a coffee sippy cup that's safe for vehicles! I weaned all my vehicles off coffee long ago.
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