I was walking by an antique shop the other day at the mall and I saw a sign that read, "New Items Arriving Daily"? Wait a minute.......Isn't the whole point of an antique, is the fact that it is old? Hmmmm..... Go figure.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Antiques - Rethink the Sign
I was walking by an antique shop the other day at the mall and I saw a sign that read, "New Items Arriving Daily"? Wait a minute.......Isn't the whole point of an antique, is the fact that it is old? Hmmmm..... Go figure.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
A Quick Thought
How do you know a certificate of authenticity is authentic? Does it have a certificate of authenticty? How do you know if that one's real?
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Mall Parking
The holiday season is upon us and once again we all must head to the mall to shop. My biggest problem with going shopping has to be the parking. Finding a close spot when it is only 12 degrees outside is key to any shopping mission.
When pulling into the parking lot you first look for those coveted empty spots in the front rows. Since this never happens you usually have to look for people walking out to their car so you can take their spot. You slowly cruise and follow these people hoping that they will be in one of those great spots. I call this "parking spot stalking". Sometimes when I am walking out of the mall I like to mess with people who are following me for my spot. I like to stop at the car in the spot closest to the entrance. I pretend to be looking for my keys while the person in the car waits. You know that the "parking spot stalker" is feeling giddy because their parking prayer has been answered. They sit there and wait. Then after a few minutes of this, I stop and walk to my car parked in the back of the lot.
Another big thing that bugs me with parking at the mall is the spots that you think are empty, but really they're not. Those small cars (Geo Metro, etc.) always get me. They are usually parked in between two big suvs. You are going along think you see the empty spot and sometimes even start to pull in before....BAM, you have to hit on the break. All dreams are destroyed by that stupid small car. You might have been fooled also by the cart holders and those spots that have a tree in the middle of them.
Holiday shopping is stressful enough, maybe Jordan Creek has it right with the valet parking. I would rather pay money then deal with finding a spot and walking in the cold. But that is just one man's opinion.
When pulling into the parking lot you first look for those coveted empty spots in the front rows. Since this never happens you usually have to look for people walking out to their car so you can take their spot. You slowly cruise and follow these people hoping that they will be in one of those great spots. I call this "parking spot stalking". Sometimes when I am walking out of the mall I like to mess with people who are following me for my spot. I like to stop at the car in the spot closest to the entrance. I pretend to be looking for my keys while the person in the car waits. You know that the "parking spot stalker" is feeling giddy because their parking prayer has been answered. They sit there and wait. Then after a few minutes of this, I stop and walk to my car parked in the back of the lot.
Another big thing that bugs me with parking at the mall is the spots that you think are empty, but really they're not. Those small cars (Geo Metro, etc.) always get me. They are usually parked in between two big suvs. You are going along think you see the empty spot and sometimes even start to pull in before....BAM, you have to hit on the break. All dreams are destroyed by that stupid small car. You might have been fooled also by the cart holders and those spots that have a tree in the middle of them.
Holiday shopping is stressful enough, maybe Jordan Creek has it right with the valet parking. I would rather pay money then deal with finding a spot and walking in the cold. But that is just one man's opinion.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
The Christmas Pounds
Tis the season to gain those unwanted pounds. The biggest reason we gain the pounds has to be the holiday sweets. Everywhere you look there are cookies, fudge and candy that you can't say no to. My office is the worst place for temptation. You can easily find a treat whenever you need one or don't need one. Well I won't be bringing in treats this year. I have come up with a new idea.
I am cutting out the middleman (cookies, candy, fudge). I am just going to bring in a can of lard and some spoons. I figure if I want to just get fat, I will just eat plain fat. Why not? Why go to all that trouble beating eggs and frosting cookies, the end result will be the same either way. Besides, no matter what you bring in to the office, if it's free, people will eat it. You ever notice that?
So join with me this holiday season and enjoy a can of lard!
I am cutting out the middleman (cookies, candy, fudge). I am just going to bring in a can of lard and some spoons. I figure if I want to just get fat, I will just eat plain fat. Why not? Why go to all that trouble beating eggs and frosting cookies, the end result will be the same either way. Besides, no matter what you bring in to the office, if it's free, people will eat it. You ever notice that?
So join with me this holiday season and enjoy a can of lard!
Sunday, December 12, 2004
The Drive-Thru
Just a quick thought today........
Does anyone else do this? When you are going thru a drive-thru and you receive your food, the drive-thru employee says "Enjoy your food". Then out of habit I say "You too!" But they aren't going to eat the food. It just goes to show I don't think before I talk.
Does anyone else do this? When you are going thru a drive-thru and you receive your food, the drive-thru employee says "Enjoy your food". Then out of habit I say "You too!" But they aren't going to eat the food. It just goes to show I don't think before I talk.
Friday, December 10, 2004
The European Dream?
I recently read a write up about a new book "The European Dream", by Jeremy Rifkin. The book talks about how in today's world people are no longer looking to achieve the so called "American Dream". The American Dream originally was based on the idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Today's American dream is something totally different. In America we live a fast paced life with very litte rest and only pursue material possesions. I see this to be true in Central Iowa. Look at all the new homes going up in West Des Moines and Waukee. You have 5 bedroom houses that only 2 people live in. Half the time the people who live in the house can't afford to buy furniture for the inside the house they just spent a half million for. If you look in the paper you can see that the amount of bankruptcies is on the rise.
So what is this European Dream? In Europe they live a more relaxed, slow paced life. They are known to take 2-3 hour lunches and leave early from work. They are granted extended vacations and maternity leave from work. Europeans don't worry about keeping up with their neighbors. They take value not in possessions but with spending time with family and friends.
I think the European Dream sounds good. I think we all need to take a few ideas from this and life in America and Central Iowa would be much better!
So what is this European Dream? In Europe they live a more relaxed, slow paced life. They are known to take 2-3 hour lunches and leave early from work. They are granted extended vacations and maternity leave from work. Europeans don't worry about keeping up with their neighbors. They take value not in possessions but with spending time with family and friends.
I think the European Dream sounds good. I think we all need to take a few ideas from this and life in America and Central Iowa would be much better!
Thursday, December 09, 2004
The Meadows
Prairie Meadows: The Land of opportunity, smoke, addiction, fun, horse racing and slots.
This month will begin the era of the table game at the Meadows. Will this just mean that they will need to start accepting social security checks at the tables instead of the slots? Have you been out there lately? I personally go out there every so often and have a great time. But, there are others who hang out there. I lot of eldery folks hang out there both day and night. I don't know if the Meadows is suppose to double for a retired home, but it does. The other day when I was there I saw a lady in a wheelchair playing the slots. Right next to her... an oxygen tank. In her mouth.....a cigarette. I was shocked! She is one of many eldery folks who daily spend their pention and social security checks in the slots. They just want to see that "777".
The eldery seem to be the only ones winning out there. Of course if you sit at one machine feeding it hundreds and hundreds of quarters you are bound to win.
I never seem to win out there. Someday I am going to test the theory that only the eldery win out there. I am going to dress up as an old person and use a wheelchair. I will wave at the cameras with my wrinkled fingers and then play. I guarantee I will win. No doubt about it!
This month will begin the era of the table game at the Meadows. Will this just mean that they will need to start accepting social security checks at the tables instead of the slots? Have you been out there lately? I personally go out there every so often and have a great time. But, there are others who hang out there. I lot of eldery folks hang out there both day and night. I don't know if the Meadows is suppose to double for a retired home, but it does. The other day when I was there I saw a lady in a wheelchair playing the slots. Right next to her... an oxygen tank. In her mouth.....a cigarette. I was shocked! She is one of many eldery folks who daily spend their pention and social security checks in the slots. They just want to see that "777".
The eldery seem to be the only ones winning out there. Of course if you sit at one machine feeding it hundreds and hundreds of quarters you are bound to win.
I never seem to win out there. Someday I am going to test the theory that only the eldery win out there. I am going to dress up as an old person and use a wheelchair. I will wave at the cameras with my wrinkled fingers and then play. I guarantee I will win. No doubt about it!
Monday, December 06, 2004
Good Morning?
Does anyone else ever get sick out saying good morning. I do. I have noticed lately that people are getting so lazy with the phrase that they just say "morning". No "good", just the "morning". How am I suppose to respond to his. Should I just say " Thanks Captain Obvious", because I already know that it is the morning.