Ouch. Ouch. Damn! Stop!

Back in 1995, I took a creative writing class. It was once a week, Wednesday evenings.

On the last night of the last class I took, I got into a car accident. 
Two lanes of traffic, a center lane, then two more lanes. I was in the left lane, there was a big farm truck (dual wheels) in the right lane. He drifted into the left lane, then into the center lane. Turned on hazard lights. So I slowed down and got into the right lane to get around him. And that stupid fuck made a right hand turn across both lanes of traffic.

I was going 40 when I hit his right rear tire. Had I hit ahead of the tire or behind it, I'm sure the damages would have been much worse to me. As it was, I had some pretty amazing bruises across my front where the seat belt locked up, a humongous bruise on my right foot (we figured out that the fire extinguisher had rocketed out from under the driver's seat and slammed into my foot) and I smacked my face on the padded center of the steering wheel. Now since my seat belt had locked up, I didn't hit hard, but I had a little bruise on my forehead, too. That car was a 1987 model, no airbag.

The car was totaled.

This dipshit came over to my window as I sat, unable to get out of the car, and said, "Didn't you see my hazard lights?"

I still think my instant response was good. I was dazed and hurt and angry.
"A hazard light is not a fucking turn signal."

Now over the next few weeks I learned that this guy was such a shitty driver that he was in the state's risk pool insurance. I also learned that he was a liar, and the driveway he was turning into belonged to his grandfather, who was also a fucking liar.

They lied about how it happened, saying that he was turning from MY lane, signal on.

But I had four witnesses who had stopped at the scene. And every one of them told the same story. And that little asshole's insurance ended up paying for everything. Because he was a shitty driver.

I was very grateful that the witnesses had stopped, as otherwise it would have been my word against his. And his lying-ass grandfather.

Jerks.

So I was waiting to pull out of the driveway at Goodwill on Tuesday morning. There was an elderly gentleman ahead of me, turning left. Since I was turning right, I hung back, knowing he would not be able to see around my car if I pulled up on his right.

He waited and waited and waited to make that left turn.
Finally, an opening as soon as that white van gets past...

And what did he do? He misjudged the distance and gunned it, hitting the right rear of the van a glancing blow.

He immediately pulled over, so did she. I pulled up behind her and turned on my hazard lights. But it's a really busy street, so I was paying careful attention, not removing my seat belt until all the cars had gone by, then getting out and onto the grass on the other side of the curb.

She was out of the van, on the phone. When I asked her if she was okay, she yelled at me, "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

I said mildly, "I didn't hit you, I witnessed the accident. Are you okay?"

Then she said, "Oh. Sorry."

The gentleman had reached us by then, and I asked him if he was injured. He said he was just fine. But kept saying, "How did this happen? I didn't see this van. *I* hit it?"

I found paper and a pen in my backpack, scrawled my name and phone number on it twice, tore it in half and gave half to each driver.

I don't know if anyone will contact me or not.
But I've been grateful for about 22 years that people stopped and gave me their information when that moron who should not have been driving almost got me killed.

So I stop and leave my information if I need to.

I am unreasonably excited.

I am now the proud owner of two of these Lego Atlantis sets.

Originally sold at Fred Meyer for $59.99, I ended up paying $22 bucks per set.
Or rather, Matt did until I reimbursed him.

He spotted them at work and asked me if I was interested. Between the 40% off clearance price, a coupon, and his discount, the price was awesome and made me smile. Can't wait to see what 'my' kids think. :)

Last week, I scored this at Goodwill.

It's called 'Perplexus'. $25 bucks or more on Amazon or at ThinkGeek.

$7.99 for me. I love Goodwill. It was still in the box.

There is a steel ball bearing inside, and a person is to turn and tilt and move the ball around to follow his or her choice of three different mazes, each one more challenging.

It satisfies the children's need to have their hands on stuff and keeps them occupied for awhile.

The kids love it so much that we have to use a timer. I put a piece of paper, a pencil, and a timer at the table where the Perplexus sits. They sign up for turns, and set a timer. That way, there are fewer arguments.

I'm sure you noticed I didn't say there are no arguments... I am, after all, dealing with children.

I'm currently watching for several items at Goodwill, hoping to find some things I need now and then.

I was thinking about doing a little inventory of the things I've contributed to my program, because I'm pretty sure that I'm at the point where more than half the things in the back room came from me personally. I'm just curious. I don't care if I get reimbursed (although I have been turning in more receipts lately than I have in the past) but I'd love to have something written down just... 'cause.

What unreasonable thing excites you? Or, what mundane thing makes you unreasonably excited?
:)

Traveling pants and other stuff...

I may have mentioned here once or twice that I like shopping at Goodwill. I save a ton of money by going there first when I need something.

Once I was planning a Girl Scout event for my troop, and needed t shirt paints. They're available at the craft store for about two dollars apiece, but I stopped by Goodwill and found a bag with 14 different bottles of 'Scribbles' (which, for the uninitiated, are t shirt paints) and it was $1.99.

I have purchased exercise equipment (if only owning it were enough to help me get into shape, but alas, one must actually use the equipment) toys, craft supplies, kitchen items, towels, rugs, blankets, duffel bags, suitcases, coats, sporting goods, books, CDs, art supplies, seasonal items for Halloween, Christmas and assorted other holidays, aquarium supplies, jewelry and furniture. I even purchased a computer there once. It lasted about four months, so it wasn't a great one, but I think we got our $15.00 worth of use out of it.

I buy most of our clothing at Goodwill, too. I like spending 10 bucks on a pair of jeans instead of 40 or more. While my parents were here last week, we did a little shopping there and I found a $14.99 pair of jeans for Lyssa that still had a store tag on them. They carried a 'Daisy Fuentes' label, and the original store tag was $54.00.


And speaking of jeans. About a year ago, I bought a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. They were practically new, and I was happy to pay a little more than usual for them. ($12.99)

Inside the waistband was a little iron-on label, reminiscent of summer camp. It said Amanda.

A couple months later, at a different Goodwill store, I found an identical pair. Since I liked the way they fit, I bought them. And found that this pair had also belonged to Amanda!

During the summer, I also found a shirt and a jacket with Amanda's private label inside. :) Didn't buy them, but noted it in passing.

On Wednesday, Eric and I went Goodwill hunting. I found a pair of the same pants a size larger... with 'Amanda' inside the waistband.

Now I'm sending Amanda good wishes, because the pants I found this week were larger than her other ones. I hope she's not gaining weight.

And I could add a gratuitous remark here about how easy it is to get into Amanda's pants, but will exercise restraint and leave it at that. 

Not much to report

We did get to enjoy the sounds of wild kitty sex again on Monday night, but this time they were across the street under the neighbor's minivan. When Eric opened the front door, they ran off.

I'm sure glad I took the sign off my front porch, but I sort of feel bad for them. I mean, I'd hate it if someone yelled at me or chased me away while I was, er, snuggling up with a friend.

(When it's feline sex and someone chases them away, is that Cattus Interruptus?)

Ran out to get a new dog rug Tuesday. She sleeps next to our bed, and the last time I washed her rug, it started to fall apart. If I were to wash it again, it would have been shredded. Since Eric had to give her a bath last night, I had to replace the rug.

Ran to Goodwill first, they often have rugs that are very reasonably priced, and I don't feel too bad when they get all dog-dirty after only a few days. I also don't feel too upset when I have to trash one. Unfortunately, I had to buy one at Big Lots.

Ah well.

I found two John Grisham books at Goodwill that I haven't read yet. Playing for Pizza and The Innocent Man. They both sounded intriguing on the covers... but if not, well, they were a buck ninety nine. AND they're recyclable, one way or another. I can either toss them in the next Goodwill bag or into the recycle bin if they really suck.

And now, although I know you're sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for me to get to the really exciting part of this post, I am going to let you down.

I just don't have much to say.

I must dress!

I've been doing a job that requires very little in the way of wardrobe. I wear jeans and whatever shirt or sweatshirt I want. Casual sneakers on my feet.

I don't wear shoes with heels even when I dress up, instead opting for dressy almost-flats. My feet bother me when they're crammed into little pointy-toed shoes, and even more when the toes are crunched in by elevating my heels. I'm old enough to go for comfort instead of looks.

Can a red hat be far behind?

The company I'm working for has a few dress code rules, but since I don't show cleavage, have any tattoos or facial piercings, I smell good and my hair is clean, I pass.

If I'm going to be doing job interviews and/or getting a new job, I might have to wear different clothes. I do have a few things I can wear, but certainly not enough to qualify as a wardrobe.

I found a couple things at Goodwill the other day, but the skirt I picked up is a little tight. I either need a bigger skirt or a smaller ass. Actually, I need both, but getting a bigger skirt is a little faster right now.

So this morning, Lyssa and I will be Goodwill hunting. I'll take the skirt back and get the store credit. Hopefully I can apply it to something a bit more suitable today.

And totally off topic, but I feel it must be addressed.

Is it just me, or are things just speeding along? Time is just ZOOMING by... even more than usual. The weeks and months are just going so fast I can hardly keep up. Our anniversary is a month away. Somehow 28 years went by when I wasn't paying attention.

Christmas is literally around the corner, too. Time for me to start shopping a bit and putting things aside for the kids, although I'm not planning anything elaborate this year. From the news reports, I'm not alone in conservative spending.

And one more thing. I was pondering the economic bailout on my way home from work yesterday. Not that I'm thinking of it all that much, because of course, it's beyond my control, but the radio station I had tuned in was thoughtfully broadcasting, LIVE, the voting from the Senate.

Just what America needs.
Another Congress Redistributing Assets Program.

Zippin'

I need to grab a fast lunch and put away some groceries, so this will be short.
I'm in a rush to get out the door for work this afternoon.

(First day in a week that I didn't have to work the morning shift... YAY!!!
Sunshine is better, so has returned to work. This is a good thing. She's a single mom and can really use the hours.)

I went to Goodwill this morning and found two pairs of jeans that actually fit. It was 14 dollars.

I just returned from the grocery store. That was a little more than 14 dollars, unfortunately.

Kelly at Ordinary Art (link on sidebar) is challenging women to photograph a part of themselves they like and post it. I gave it a lot of thought, and probably will think about it all some more. But Kelly? There isn't anything left on me that I like except my hair. And today, even that looks sort of crappy.

It does, however, bring up some issues that I've been gearing up to post about, so thank you for that.

I'll ponder some more.

Goodwill Hunting Chapter 3

We went to Goodwill this morning. Alyssa has become inspired and is creating all the characters from her stories in fabric. We went to find some shirts for her to cut up. Cheaper than yard goods at the fabric store, with the added bonus of buttons.

We found the things she needed (three shirts) as well as a new hooded jacket for her (I hate hate hate the word ‘hoodie’, so I refuse to use it here.)

I got a new shirt, and found the food dehydrator I’ve been hoping to find. And even though I have told my hubby that I’ll never have to buy yarn again, I bought one bag for $2.99. It contained several skeins of different variegated yarns, and that seems to be what the kids at work like to use the most.

I also scored a light box, which is something used by photographers for sorting negatives. I have 30 years worth to go through, and thought that would make it a bit easier. They’re 50 bucks at the camera store, but it was $15.00 at Goodwill.

So some good stuff, and with store credits from returning a few things, I ended up paying about $32.00 for the whole bunch.

This was good.

Even better was the laugh I got when a woman opened the door to the store’s only restroom only to find a man hanging out in there. (omg, I slay me!! HANGING OUT... bwa ha ha ha ha)

Obviously a descendant of Albert Einstein.

She was horribly embarrassed, but I told her that maybe he should have locked the door?

I probably shouldn’t have laughed, but I couldn’t help seeing humor in it.

I’m a bad person.

You can't make this shit up.

I stopped by Goodwill today as I almost always do when out and about. I got an office type swivel chair for my daughter's room for $4.99, a brand new (complete with $80.00 Nordstrom store tag) gorgeous faded denim-y blue cardigan, two games for my work kids, a Koosh ball, and a package of index cards. It was 18 bucks. I love Goodwill.

While I was looking through paper, rubber stamps and general office supplies, a man entered the aisle down at the other end. He picked up a heavy duty stapler to look at. You know the kind I mean. It can shoot a one-inch staple through a sheet of plywood. Fairly lethal, and the one we own came with instructions to WEAR GOGGLES at all times while in use.

He turned the stapler in his hand, grabbed it like he was going to staple something, and squeeeezed the handle. A staple SHOT out and down the aisle. I heard it hit something at the end. Did he put the stapler down? No. He did NOT. He turned over in his hand, and squeeeezed the handle AGAIN!! And I'll be damned if he didn't get the same result! What a dumbass!

He evidently hadn't figured out that he was the one shooting staples in a crowded store. You'd think the noise and the 'kick' from the stapler would have gotten his attention, wouldn't you?

Nope.

I saw him turn the business end of the stapler toward his face. Surely he's not going to do it again, I thought, but he squeezed the trigger a third time!!! He did not shoot himself in the face. The staple parted his hair (I am not kidding here) and flew up over the top of the shelving in that aisle. He jumped back about a foot, threw it away from him and looked at it like it was a snake. You've seen a cat pounce on something only to crash into the wall and kind of sidle away, embarrased but with a little 'I meant to do that' attitude, right?

That was his demeanor as he quickly walked away.

I had to rush home and write about it.
:)

Today at Goodwill

Well, somehow I goofed. Alyssa was scheduled for oral surgery at 8:30 this morning, but the receptionist said we weren't on the schedule. I pulled out my appointment card. The one SHE gave me. 8:30. Today. So she looked in the chart. Said, "Hmm, I have here that you cancelled."

Well, no I hadn't. I had called and said that Lyssa's orthodontic appointment was scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday the 24th) and that I'd ask our orthodental (no, not a typo, our dentist is doing the kids' braces) guy if we'd need to reschedule, and said, "I'll call you if we do." Evidently she didn't hear it that way. No matter. My listener must have been out of order on that day anyway, because Lyssa was to have no food or beverage after midnight last night... and she had a nice breakfast this morning.

::thwapping own head:::

So Ms. Receptionist checked with the doctor, and came back to tell me they'd had a cancellation for 2:30 today, and would that work for us? I said we'd be there, and left. Asked Lyssa if she'd like to go Goodwill Hunting with me. She was up for it, and we headed over to see what was new. Didn't find a whole lot (well, a shirt and a brand new copy of "It's A Wonderful Life" which I will add to my Christmas collection.) Speaking of Christmas... we also saw this, um, lady? Yes, those are Christmas pajama pants and pink flip-flops. I think the jacket was a lovely touch, too. Now I would ordinarily try to take a better photo, but I was trying really hard to be inconspicuous. I understand that it's Goodwill. One doesn't need to be dressed up or fancy to go there. I certainly am not.
But wow.

Goodwill Hunting

I go in there twice a week to see what's new.
Yesterday I bought a package of alphabet stamps (still factory wrapped) for 99 cents. Bought a couple shirts with department store tags still on them, a CD, a puzzle and a computer keyboard.

Walked out after writing a check for $13.47.

While I was in there, I saw lots of unattended children in the toy section. Two little boys had opened up puzzles and were trying to put them together on the floor (in the middle of the aisle) while another one was pulling stuffed animals off the shelves and launching them with a kick toward the other end of the aisle, chanting, "I can fly! I can fly!"

Three incredibly grubby kids dug in the bargain toy bin, occasionally holding something up and saying, "Hey, look what I found!" The oldest one kept licking his upper lip where his nose had been running.

Some ignorant and unwashed woman was pushing a shopping cart. (Could smell her an aisle away... ugh!!)

In the seat of the cart was a really ugly baby girl.

Walking, or rather being dragged next to the cart was a grubby little boy of about 2.
He had a pacifier in his mouth.

I was grateful for that, as he was throwing a screaming fit around it. It muffled the noise.

She dragged him by one arm as she shopped for shoes, paying no more attention to his gorilla-like hopping and screeching than a gorilla mom would.

If it had been my kid, I would not have dragged him along with me, I would have left him sitting on the floor and kept walking. Kids don't like that. They eventually follow. I like Goodwill. I hate the Great Unwashed.