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Han Solo: This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off, I’d never get past the tractor beam.
Ben Kenobi: Leave that to me!
Han Solo: Damn fool. I knew that you were going to say that!
Star Wars IV: A New Hope
What is it with the crazy skyscraper heels today? Don’t get me wrong. I like most high heels, I think they can be beautiful and feminine and perfectly fine in moderation and in appropriate situations. But the heels I’m seeing the last year or so… well, they’re just ridiculous. I see women tottering around town – and tottering is the only word that fits – on heels so incredibly high that they can’t even walk upright anymore! They walk in this weird, knees bent at an almost 60 degree angle, way that pushes part of their body forward so much that they have to lean the rest of their body way back just to keep from falling over. Frankly, it’s kind of pathetic. And then, during last week’s snow storm I saw a woman poking her way along on the sidewalk in these crazy high boots when the roads and sidewalks hadn’t even been cleared yet. I thought, “Come on! There’s so many cute shoes and boots that aren’t going to make you risk your neck.”
What do you think? Have I officially moved into the crabby old lady stage of life? Or have you been seeing this and thinking it too?
Deck Officer: Sir, Commander Skywalker hasn’t come in through the south entrance. He might have forgotten to check in.
Han Solo: Not likely. Are the speeders ready?
Deck Officer: Not yet. We’re having some trouble adapting them to the cold.
Han Solo: Then we’ll have to go out on Tauntauns.
Deck Officer: Sir, the temperature’s dropping too rapidly.
Han Solo: That’s right. And my friends out in it.
Assistant Officer: I’ll cover sector twelve. Have com-control set screen alpha.
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
When Iowa and the rest of the upper midwest decide to have a blizzard, they don’t play around. Although our on-the-ground snow fall total of a little over a foot isn’t anything to write home about – peshaw, we used to get up to three feet at a time at least once a year back in West Michigan and Dad Windu routinely pushed that off his car in the morning while at school up at Michigan Tech - this place has wind like I can hardly believe. It takes that foot of snow and WHIPS it around. It’s absolutely blinding. The snow blows this direction to that, up and down, and all around. If I read that snow here sometimes flies inside out, I’d be inclined to believe them. And when the straight line winds decide to kick in… Oh boy, they spin that snow upwards of 40-50 mph.
And they close highways down here. Literally. They close them down. With gates. You no go, cowboy. Stop. Un uh, not gonna happen.
It’s for good reason, too. I must admit, it’s hard to take weather advisories seriously when they use the word “blizzard” in the same sentence as “4-9 inches of expected accumulation”. Drivers like Dad Windu who blasted through “real snow” in the UP (Michigan’s Upper Peninsula) and semi-truck drivers who meet every type of lousy weather condition as just another bump in the road, simply roll their eyes and push on through. I’m so glad we live within blocks of his job and he was able to just sidewalk-skate into work today because he would have been on the roads bright and early, damned be the conditions. He’s got a DEADLINE, ya know.
But our little local blizzards are serious. The state police shut down I-35 (a main north-south connector highway, MN and TX) due to zero visability last night and it’s continuing into today due to a 25 car pile up that has left 2 dead already. I-80 is also still closed in spots due to semi-trailers jack-knifed across all or most lanes. Every school in our larger viewing area was closed. The colleges were all closed. All state government offices were closed until noon. The downtown shops were almost all closed. And good on them! I hate to think that anyone unnecessarily put their lives on the line so that I could buy more stuff I don’t really need.
Stay safe out there, everyone. And all you folks in the line of… well, snow? Yeah, take it seriously.
Supreme Chancellor: “Remember back to your early teachings. ‘All who gain power are afraid to lose it.’ Even the Jedi.”
Anakin Skywalker: “The Jedi use their power for good.”
Supreme Chancellor: “Good is a point of view, Anakin.”
Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
OK, the Supreme Chancellor is a bit twisted in his interpretation of things, to be sure, but still here are a few good things I’m thankful for today:
- The weather lately has been so pleasant for walking to work in, for sitting on the patio, for roaming the neighborhood
- The school year is coming to an end again for Padawan Learner. The more he attends, the more I enjoy his breaks from the daily go-go-go of early up, early out, perpetually sleep-deprived teenager
- Padawan Learner’s land-speeder is continuing to hold it together. We just need it to get to June…
- Our tickets to visit Canada are purchased, 2 of our 3 passport renewals have been completed (last one went in today), and the time is sure to come faster than we can even expect
- We have a quickie trip back to Michigan planned in the near future. It will be wonderful to see some old friends and family again.
- We’re all healthy. This really should be first. I’m coming to realize more and more that good health is paramount.
- Dad Windu is still one of my favorite people..
- Padawan Learner is more interesting than exasperating these days. They really do grow up given enough time (and with a lot of tongue biting on everyone’s part)
- Shmi Skywalker, aka my mom, tells me that she’s making two trips out this summer, one with my brother, Plo Koon, and another with my sister, Kit Fisto. Neither have been here before.
- DW’s sister (Padme Amidala) and her son (also known as PW’s nemesis during their early years, Sebulba) are also planning a visit.
- My Fox Barrel Pacific Pear cider is utterly delicious and doesn’t give me a tummy ache.
- Padawan Learner received two awards from a couple of his classes for exceptional progress and going above and beyond in the class.
- DW and I were able to roam about a construction site nearby. That’s always a good time, and I always learn something new. This one showed several layers of historic road that was quite interesting – old tram lines still in place, filled over and covered by a brick road, covered by multiple layers of asphalt.
- Both of the cats finally seem to understand that going out on the patio means staying WITHIN the patio border and not over onto the rubber decking. This makes their excursions outside with us much more relaxing.
- I’ve finished two interesting books this week – always a highlight for me.
- Qui-Gon Jinn sent a Facebook message to say she’s heading out our way for a graduation party, so we might be able to grab a bit of time together that weekend.
- And much, much more. I could probably make an equally long list of complaints, but I choose not to focus on those so I will not.
[to Wicket the Ewok]
“You’re a jittery little thing, aren’t you?” – Princess Leia, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
Of course I am, I’ve had about 17 cups of coffee and half a carton of chocolate covered almonds since waking up at 8am this morning. This is not, just so you know, a recipe for steady hands. It is, however, a recipe for happy taste buds. Small victories.
Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a perpetual dreamer. I ask annoying questions like, “Do you ever wonder if we’re making the right choice by saving as much as we can for retirement, owning our house/having a mortgage, working full-time instead of traveling while we can, since there’s no guarantee that we’ll a) live to retirement, b) be healthy enough to travel and learn/do all the things we want to by then, or c) not have all our retirement funds go belly up in a huge stock market crash by that time?” or “What types of things do you want to learn, and is it really a want (aka, you’d be willing to really work for it) or just a wish (wouldn’t it be cool if I could…)?”
We had one of our oldest friends out this weekend. We didn’t do much, but it was great to see her and she seemed to enjoy the downtime in a different locale. Being the nice person I am, I even put her to work in the backroom at the store during my short shift yesterday. That’s right, come visit me and I’ll make you look for rips, stains and excess wear in piles of used clothing. Good times, good times. (But as a volunteer, she got 50% off her purchases, so everyone wins.) Now it’s time for her husband to come visit so we can visit with him, too!
On an unrelated note, Padawan Learner gets to go to Catalina Island during spring break as part of a volunteer effort to remove invasive species, help get the island ready for summer tourists, and learn about the island’s biodiversity. How cool is that? He even gets 2 hours of Field Studies college credit for it. I am jealous beyond words.
C-3PO: “I do believe they think I am some kind of god.”
Han Solo: “Well, why don’t you use your divine influence and get us out of this?”
C-3PO: “I beg your pardon General Solo, but that just wouldn’t be proper.”
Han Solo: “Proper?”
C-3PO: “It’s against my programming to impersonate a deity.”
Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
After weeks, and a very intensive weekend, of being called some kind of retail goddess for managing the move and storage process while some work is being done at the store, it’s nice to just hang out at home for a few days – although my intial idea of a trip into Vancouver would have been even MORE wonderful. So I’ve got a few days off and I’ve returned to old habits.
- The original Star Wars trilogy is playing in the background while I catch up on housework, take down the last of the Halloween decorations, and get soup going on the stovetop.
- Snacks are being consumed in lieu of actual meals.
- Banking and bill paying is getting up to date.
- Repairmen and contractors are in and out of the house, finishing up loose odds and ends.
- Bob-cat is claiming my lap anytime I sit longer than 4 seconds.
It’s a nice change of pace after the last two weeks of ca. ra. zee in preparation for the next couple of weeks down at the store – and the up-coming holiday madness.
I hope you’re all having a great day as well.
Obi-Wan: “Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way. Any activity up here?”
Anakin: “Quiet as a tomb. I don’t like just waiting here for something to happen to her.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
Please forgive the crazy delay. I popped in today and noticed that my last post was on July 4th. A month and a half. Geez.
So, you see here’s the thing. I got a job. A full-time job. A really full-time, on my feet all day long on a concrete floor job. A this was supposed to be a part-time, up-to-20 hours a week, filler position job, but after six days spread out over two weeks I was offered the position of store manager on July 8. A full-time, at least 40 hours a week job. Well, holy cow. I said yes, took over on July 9, and it’s been a crazy rollercoaster ever since. Have I mentioned that it’s been way too many years since that kind of non-stop on-the-go activity has been a regular part of my life? I have learned a new level of both exhaustion and sore foot pain.
On the up side, I love this job. Love, love, love it. It’s fun, it’s positive, and it’s close enough to walk or bike to. The women I work with are fun and hardworking (a great combo), the challenges are enough to keep my brain pumping along, and the feedback from my employers and customers regarding the changes I’ve been implementing have been uniformly positive.
Many other things have been happening as well these past couple of weeks.
Padawan Learner turned 16 this summer, is driving around town by himself, started back to school at 5 out of the 8 periods (and is picking up a 6th period geometry class starting on Monday) and has been pleased with his newfound freedom. It’s a little weird, but we’re both enjoying the break from each other 24/7. He’s very 16, and I’m definitely a mom. Clashes have ensued. He’s talked about getting a job and working toward becoming independent sooner rather than later. It could be a good idea, but we’ll see how much effort he puts into meeting that goal. As you know quite well, there’s more to being a grownup than earning an income.
PL went to two different camps this summer, a week long half day parkour camp in Boulder. So PL got to participate in one of his most favorite activities ever AND we got to visit with our nephew who just moved into the area a few months earlier. I think he enjoyed our visit too since he was forced to learn first hand about lots of great restaurants in the area. PL also went to a week long overnight camp (his first experience with that type of program) for trampoline and double mini in Michigan, so Dad Windu and I were able to visit some old friends from different parts of Michigan – including some that we hadn’t been able to see for years.
To round the summer out, our niece married, rather unexpectedly but apparently happily, and we were all able to gather once again as an extended family (minus 3) for a long weekend. But it seems that with joy comes pain, and this weekend was no different – DW’s co-worker was in a motorcycle-car accident on the way home the same day we left for MI and was airlifted to a hospital near us. Thankfully he had on his leathers and a helmet (a rarity in Iowa). Still, he has two broken legs, a broken arm, and bleeding in the brain (now stopped), but he survived the first night (a major event) and is on the mend. He is such a sweetheart and such a fighter. I’ve been able to go sit with him in the mornings while his wife gets their four kids off on two different school busses (two hours apart!) so that he doesn’t have to wake up alone. The good drugs are giving us really fun conversations. It’s so nice seeing his bruises go down day after day, but it’s heartbreaking to see the pain that goes along with all the things that will ultimately make him better – multiple surgeries and their subsequent swelling most of all. Send any extra good thoughts along to JerBear.
So there you have it. Sorry for making you wait for an update.
Luke Skywalker: “3PO, tell them if they don’t do as you wish, you’ll become angry and use your magic.”
C-3PO: “But, Master Luke, what magic? I couldn’t possibly…”
Luke Skywalker: “Just tell them.”
Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
This may be my next step if the local thrift stores don’t stop trying to make their stores as difficult as possible to shop in. I resisted the thrift store world for decades (because of a bad experience as a kid), but I’ve grown to love them in the past couple of years. An old friend, Qui-Gon Jinn, used to say she thought of them as life’s ”storage unit”. Don’t need these black slacks, take them to the thrift store. Two years down the line, if you need another pair of black slacks you go back and pick up a pair of black slacks, paying a small “storage fee” of roughly $2-4 dollars for the service. No, you won’t get the exact same black slacks you dropped off, but really what’s the big deal? They’re black slacks.
Nearly all of the local thrift stores here in lovely Des Moines sort their clothes by color, instead of by size. A little clue here folks: I can easily find a white shirt from within a selection of size small shirts. It’s far harder to find a size small shirt within a selection of white shirts. Similarly, it’s much easier to get a “I hate shopping” teenager to try on cargo pants (that he’s going to out-grow in less than a season) when you don’t have to check the size on every. single. pair of cargo pants in the mens department. Shockingly, this annoys the crap out of boys that hate shopping.
Since I’m venting my spleen, it also annoys me that they don’t sort out the obviously damaged, worn or stained merchandise. Sure, some people don’t care if there’s a nasty ketchup stain down the front of a white top if they’re only going to wear it to work at a dirty, nasty, greasy tool & die shop (i.e., my mother). Maybe someone is just looking for a cheap source of cleaning rags. Perhaps another person is looking for bits and pieces of material they can morph into something else. That’s great! Reduce, reuse, recycle! So sort those “not likely to be worn in public as-is” duds into a special “scratch & dent” ultra-savings section like you find in an appliance store. For example: all green tagged pieces on these racks or in these bins (still sorted by size, please!) are 25 or 50 cents each. The vast majority of people are looking for good quality used clothes that don’t look like they’re been worn to within an inch of their lives or missed out on the great Washing Machine experience of 2008.
The racks, where do I start? Clothes should not be immobile on the racks, they should slide a little so that the shopper can actually SEE what something looks like rather than having to make a judgement from the sleeve alone. Slide, glide, move; pick your term. If I go into a store and the racks are so tightly packed that I can’t pick one item without fighting off the two on either side, I am more likely than not to just walk away. You do want us interested in the things you are offering, right? To be so, I have to be able to take a good look at it first.
And what’s the deal with the tiny, poorly lit dressing rooms? When I can’t judge how something really looks like on me, I’m not likely to buy it. Oh, and since I’m on a roll, it also annoys me that a “no returns” policy appears to be the norm out here. Which just sucks. The one that I know of that does let you return things within 3 days does so because they no longer even HAVE a dressing room anymore, and even then they only give in-store credit for returns which isn’t exactly the same as getting your money back. If I can take an item home, check to make sure it will go with some of my other items (or give me time to find something to go with it), I’m much more likely to buy it in the first place.
So here you go Goodwill, Salvation Army, Junior League, and the other thrift stores out there that want to outfit the frugalistas of the Midwest:
- Sort out the “scratch & dent clothes/items” on a seperate rack/location.
- Again: Only clean clothes in good repair on the regular racks.
- Leave room for clothes to slide a bit once the above sorting has been done.
- Have several decent sized dressing rooms with full-length mirrors and good lighting.
- Allow for returns. This is essential. Returns within 30 days – with tags intact – is ideal. Go crazy and make the “scratch & dent” items No Returns if desired.
It’s really a shame about the anti-customer practices here because I bought nearly all my clothes at the West Michigan stores that sorted by size and – again, key- let me return things up to 30 days. Those stores behaved like… you know, actual clothes stores. For that courtesy, I gave them my business and my loyalty. I can’t say I feel the same about the thrift stores here in Des Moines. I find that I’m much more likely to poke around, find a few cute “maybe” things and leave with all my money still in my pocket because I don’t want to risk that they aren’t going to match anything else I own.
If you make it easy, we will buy more.
If we buy more, you can do more for your programs.
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