I've never read a poll on what people say is their favorite day of the year, but I'd probably guess that Christmas, Thanksgiving and their birthday are probably in the top five answers. I can guarantee you that no one else would choose my favorite day- the yearly book fair near Flemington, NJ.
Why a book fair? I've always loved to read. When I was a kid I used to go into bookstores and walk down the aisles and pick out what books I would want to buy. I used to think, wouldn't it be great if one day I could go into a store with $100 and buy 10-12 books?(of course that would only buy you 4 or 5 today)
I've been going to this book fair for I think 15 of the last 16 years and I always looking forward to that April weekend. The book fair literally has more than ten thousand books that you can buy for as little as $.50 to a $1.00 or $2.00. I've been going and buying 25-40 books and I read them throughout the year and it cost me less than $50. It's even better than I used to dream about as a kid!
The last weekend in April is the week we may close on our house and unfortunately it is also the weekend of the book fair. Since I can't be in NJ for the book fair I decided to go to a book fair a library was having here near Myrtle Beach. I knew it would be small, but I was hoping I could find 5-10 books I'd want to read.
The selection was much, much smaller, but somehow I found 21 books and the total cost came to .....
$12.50! When I walked out of the library I felt like I was stealing from them. I can't say today was my favorite day of the year, maybe this year it will be Father's Day since I'll be with my Dad.(I admit I said that because I know he's reading this and I just said that because I know he'll laugh)
However, if you've never been to THE BOOK FAIR, look up "Friends of Hunterdon Library Book Fair." I donated over five hundred books back to them last year-they may still be selling some of them this year. It doesn't have to be your favorite day. But, if you like to read, it will be a good day.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Sunday, March 11, 2018
The Toilet in The Closet-Part 2
I wrote earlier that the one problem we are facing with the building of our new house, is the toilet in the bathroom. They insisted on putting a wall around it and making it more like a restaurant bathroom stall or like being in a closet. It's a serious issue with me since I read a lot on the toilet and it looks like it's a real dim light in there.
It's getting more complicated than that. We were at the house today and they are framing it and it looks good. One small problem is the hook-up for our toilet. We're pretty sure the plumber put it in our closet in the master bedroom.
I'm not going to be comfortable sitting in a closet on the toilet trying to read a book. I don't think the light in the closet is going to be better than in the big closet either. And, if you haven't thought about this yet, I don't think the clothes in the closet are going to smell any better even if I use the "Febrez" air freshner.
I think we're going to have to get that toilet put in the right place, don't you agree?
It's getting more complicated than that. We were at the house today and they are framing it and it looks good. One small problem is the hook-up for our toilet. We're pretty sure the plumber put it in our closet in the master bedroom.
I'm not going to be comfortable sitting in a closet on the toilet trying to read a book. I don't think the light in the closet is going to be better than in the big closet either. And, if you haven't thought about this yet, I don't think the clothes in the closet are going to smell any better even if I use the "Febrez" air freshner.
I think we're going to have to get that toilet put in the right place, don't you agree?
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Scaring People at Wal-Mart
Many times I've seen something online advertising pictures of how the shoppers at Wal-Mart look, but I never wondered if I would be filmed as "one of those" people. However, it did occur to me the other day.
The pace is slower in the South and I may have slowed down some, but probably not enough. I'm working as a courier, delivering boxes to places and I'm in a few Wal-Mart's each day delivering to their pharmacy. I put a box or two in a shopping cart and I move pretty quickly, actually too quickly.
Last week I was racing with a cart through the parking lot heading towards the front entrance and there was a woman a little bit ahead of me. I could tell by her body language that she heard the cart getting closer and closer to her and suddenly she looked over her left shoulder in fear. As I passed her I had to apologize for scaring her.
So each day I'm walking quickly through the aisles and I see people watching me as if they haven't seen anyone move that quickly before.(maybe they haven't) But no one has been filming me as of yet, but you never know. If one day you see me online, you now know what I'm doing.
The pace is slower in the South and I may have slowed down some, but probably not enough. I'm working as a courier, delivering boxes to places and I'm in a few Wal-Mart's each day delivering to their pharmacy. I put a box or two in a shopping cart and I move pretty quickly, actually too quickly.
Last week I was racing with a cart through the parking lot heading towards the front entrance and there was a woman a little bit ahead of me. I could tell by her body language that she heard the cart getting closer and closer to her and suddenly she looked over her left shoulder in fear. As I passed her I had to apologize for scaring her.
So each day I'm walking quickly through the aisles and I see people watching me as if they haven't seen anyone move that quickly before.(maybe they haven't) But no one has been filming me as of yet, but you never know. If one day you see me online, you now know what I'm doing.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Visiting A Car Wash
I don't remember what year it was that I last went through a car wash, but I think I remember what decade it was. I'm pretty sure our kids were little so it had to be in the 90's. I went to the car wash so the kids could enjoy going through it, not really for the car to get cleaned.
I know, going through a car wash is a very normal thing that some people do all the time. I've even seen signs that say something like, "Unlimited Car Washes for $30." I also remember thinking, how do you spend $30 a month on washing the car? I don't think I've spent that much for a "real" car wash in my entire life.
Since the 90's I've been on the road driving a lot, so I guess my car somehow gets dirty. For me, the car is dirty in three stages. Stage one is that it's kind of dirty and I really don't even notice it. Stage two is it's dirty and I'm wondering when the rain will come and clean it. Stage three is that I'm thinking something has to happen soon, because it's starting to look bad.
I would clean my car in two ways. One, the old fashioned way-with a hose, bucket of water and some soap(if I can find it) and I spend a good twenty minutes getting it semi-clean. Two, I would go to the self-cleaning car wash and put 8-10 quarters in and spend a few minutes soaping it and rinsing it off and it looks pretty good. I probably did each of these 3-7 times a year, but I never counted either of them.
Down here in South Carolina we're renting a condo and we don't have a hose or a bucket.( I admit I have cleaned off some dirt on the car with a paper towel a couple times) Rain has helped occasionally, but my car was in stage 3 of dirty this past week.
I could not find a self-cleaning car wash yet, so I finally decided yesterday to find a reasonable priced car wash and get it cleaned. I drove past and through several places until I found one advertising $5 and I pulled in. I noticed there were no cars in line like the other places, but I wasn't concerned. When I pulled up, one lane said it was closed and the other one had a rope in front of it, but I wasn't concerned. I almost put the $5 in the machine, but decided to check inside the convenience store in the same lot. It was all closed, now I was concerned.
I drove a little further and found what I was looking for. A group of 5-6 people were washing and drying cars for $5 at a gas station and I paid and came out with a clean car.
It doesn't really qualify as a car wash, but it was very close. I'm really happy I went yesterday, because they wouldn't have been out there today in the rain. I'll be looking for those self cleaning places or I can wait to get a hose and a bucket when our house is done in 7 weeks.
I know, going through a car wash is a very normal thing that some people do all the time. I've even seen signs that say something like, "Unlimited Car Washes for $30." I also remember thinking, how do you spend $30 a month on washing the car? I don't think I've spent that much for a "real" car wash in my entire life.
Since the 90's I've been on the road driving a lot, so I guess my car somehow gets dirty. For me, the car is dirty in three stages. Stage one is that it's kind of dirty and I really don't even notice it. Stage two is it's dirty and I'm wondering when the rain will come and clean it. Stage three is that I'm thinking something has to happen soon, because it's starting to look bad.
I would clean my car in two ways. One, the old fashioned way-with a hose, bucket of water and some soap(if I can find it) and I spend a good twenty minutes getting it semi-clean. Two, I would go to the self-cleaning car wash and put 8-10 quarters in and spend a few minutes soaping it and rinsing it off and it looks pretty good. I probably did each of these 3-7 times a year, but I never counted either of them.
Down here in South Carolina we're renting a condo and we don't have a hose or a bucket.( I admit I have cleaned off some dirt on the car with a paper towel a couple times) Rain has helped occasionally, but my car was in stage 3 of dirty this past week.
I could not find a self-cleaning car wash yet, so I finally decided yesterday to find a reasonable priced car wash and get it cleaned. I drove past and through several places until I found one advertising $5 and I pulled in. I noticed there were no cars in line like the other places, but I wasn't concerned. When I pulled up, one lane said it was closed and the other one had a rope in front of it, but I wasn't concerned. I almost put the $5 in the machine, but decided to check inside the convenience store in the same lot. It was all closed, now I was concerned.
I drove a little further and found what I was looking for. A group of 5-6 people were washing and drying cars for $5 at a gas station and I paid and came out with a clean car.
It doesn't really qualify as a car wash, but it was very close. I'm really happy I went yesterday, because they wouldn't have been out there today in the rain. I'll be looking for those self cleaning places or I can wait to get a hose and a bucket when our house is done in 7 weeks.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Tales From The Road
Over the years I've collected a bunch of unusual and amusing stories being on the road. The past few years I've been driving 5,000 miles a month which I think qualifies me as a "Road Warrior." I'm back on the road now and every now and then I'll share a few short tales from my travels.
I was delivering to a Pet Smart store and had the manager sign for the delivery. When I asked him for his last name so I can type it in, he said, "Breeding." I said, "did they believe that was your last name when they hired you?" He laughed and said they did believe him, but I really think his last name was Smith. I wonder, do they call him Mr. Breeding at the Pet store?
I am awful with abbreviations. When I started working for THE USA TODAY, I kept seeing references to USAT and people were pronouncing the word as "USAT." I had to ask my boss, what does that stand for? I'm sure she was concerned that she had to tell me it stood for USA TODAY.
On my delivery list were the initials IMCMV with the address of this huge amusement place called: Broadway at the Beach. This location has almost every kind of entertainment and stores and rides you could possibly want and it's spread out over a tremendous area. The question was, what does IMCMV stand for? The phone number was disconnected and the guest information store had no idea.
The answer: it stands for Jimmy Buffet's Restaurant. IMCMV is the name of the restaurant company and no one could have made that delivery. Couldn't they give me a clue on the route sheet?
I'm using a hand truck from the warehouse that is not ideal. It's short and it's missing a cotter screw(yes, I admit I had no clue what that was) which would enable me to open it up completely instead of walking with it a little hunched over. As I entered one office a woman commented that the last driver had a much larger hand truck and I have such a smaller one. I replied, "well, I have a screw missing." She said that I probably shouldn't say that too often and we had a good laugh. If someone questions my small hand truck again I'm going to tell them, "I used to be shorter and I'm shrinking now, so this is just right."
I know, some of you KNOW I have a screw missing. The important thing is that I have a lot of other screws that make up for that one missing.
I was delivering to a Pet Smart store and had the manager sign for the delivery. When I asked him for his last name so I can type it in, he said, "Breeding." I said, "did they believe that was your last name when they hired you?" He laughed and said they did believe him, but I really think his last name was Smith. I wonder, do they call him Mr. Breeding at the Pet store?
I am awful with abbreviations. When I started working for THE USA TODAY, I kept seeing references to USAT and people were pronouncing the word as "USAT." I had to ask my boss, what does that stand for? I'm sure she was concerned that she had to tell me it stood for USA TODAY.
On my delivery list were the initials IMCMV with the address of this huge amusement place called: Broadway at the Beach. This location has almost every kind of entertainment and stores and rides you could possibly want and it's spread out over a tremendous area. The question was, what does IMCMV stand for? The phone number was disconnected and the guest information store had no idea.
The answer: it stands for Jimmy Buffet's Restaurant. IMCMV is the name of the restaurant company and no one could have made that delivery. Couldn't they give me a clue on the route sheet?
I'm using a hand truck from the warehouse that is not ideal. It's short and it's missing a cotter screw(yes, I admit I had no clue what that was) which would enable me to open it up completely instead of walking with it a little hunched over. As I entered one office a woman commented that the last driver had a much larger hand truck and I have such a smaller one. I replied, "well, I have a screw missing." She said that I probably shouldn't say that too often and we had a good laugh. If someone questions my small hand truck again I'm going to tell them, "I used to be shorter and I'm shrinking now, so this is just right."
I know, some of you KNOW I have a screw missing. The important thing is that I have a lot of other screws that make up for that one missing.
"Go Spoil Your Wife With Kindness"
A friend of mine, Gary, finished an e-mail to me with these words, "go spoil your wife with kindness." I had never heard the phrase before, but I thought it was a great way to say goodbye. And of course, it does make sense too. Why not spoil your spouse with kindness?
Whether you have the same spouse for almost 35 years like I have, or you're newly married, being kind and considerate and showing how much you love your spouse should be a daily routine. Think about all the little things your spouse does for you. They deserve some spoiling for that and because they mean everything to you.
If you don't have a spouse or significant other, what if you spoiled anyone you meet with kindness? Maybe that's what people do down here in the south, they seem to do it so effortlessly. I was in a parking lot and I was asking a security guard for directions. He wasn't sure where I was going, but he did his best to help me and then drove away on his golf cart. About two minutes later he was back again with more information. I was on the phone with my boss and as many times as I said thank you to the security guard, he just kept talking and trying to help me.
So this advice came from the north down to the south and it's going back up north to you. Go ahead today-spoil someone with kindness.
Whether you have the same spouse for almost 35 years like I have, or you're newly married, being kind and considerate and showing how much you love your spouse should be a daily routine. Think about all the little things your spouse does for you. They deserve some spoiling for that and because they mean everything to you.
If you don't have a spouse or significant other, what if you spoiled anyone you meet with kindness? Maybe that's what people do down here in the south, they seem to do it so effortlessly. I was in a parking lot and I was asking a security guard for directions. He wasn't sure where I was going, but he did his best to help me and then drove away on his golf cart. About two minutes later he was back again with more information. I was on the phone with my boss and as many times as I said thank you to the security guard, he just kept talking and trying to help me.
So this advice came from the north down to the south and it's going back up north to you. Go ahead today-spoil someone with kindness.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Do You Bring a Hand Truck Into a Public Restroom and If So, How Far?
We've all seen a Mom or Dad holding a child's hand as they walk into a public restroom. Sometimes the child doesn't want to go and sometimes they wanted to go ten minutes ago. I've walked into a public restroom holding a jacket or a bag or even magazines that I'm delivering.
However, what do you do if you have a hand truck with you? I know this is a question you've thought long and hard about over the years, maybe this will help you decide. I was delivering some boxes in a mall and had to use a restroom and I came face to face with this perplexing question.
Do you leave it outside the door and hope no one takes it? Would they do it? It's not like they would just pick it up and walk away with it. Would someone steal something they had to push around to get away?
Do you bring it into the bathroom and put it on the side so you can keep an eye on it? If you have to go in a stall, is there room for a hand truck in there? Can you hang it up on the door?
I did wheel it into the restroom to keep an eye on it, but I wasn't comfortable doing it. Imagine if you walk out and you open the door and walk into someone with the hand truck!
With all the talk in the past year about who should use what bathroom, maybe it's time we talk about what should you be allowed to bring into the bathroom? (Maybe not)
However, what do you do if you have a hand truck with you? I know this is a question you've thought long and hard about over the years, maybe this will help you decide. I was delivering some boxes in a mall and had to use a restroom and I came face to face with this perplexing question.
Do you leave it outside the door and hope no one takes it? Would they do it? It's not like they would just pick it up and walk away with it. Would someone steal something they had to push around to get away?
Do you bring it into the bathroom and put it on the side so you can keep an eye on it? If you have to go in a stall, is there room for a hand truck in there? Can you hang it up on the door?
I did wheel it into the restroom to keep an eye on it, but I wasn't comfortable doing it. Imagine if you walk out and you open the door and walk into someone with the hand truck!
With all the talk in the past year about who should use what bathroom, maybe it's time we talk about what should you be allowed to bring into the bathroom? (Maybe not)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)