I was in the line for the drive-up window a few days ago at the local coffee shop, and in the car ahead of me, a little furry head poked out of the driver’s window. The server reached through the window and started feeding the dog from a packet of potato hash brown nuggets. Now, I love pets as much as the next person, particularly dogs, but as there wasn’t much opportunity for her to go and wash her hands, and she’d be handing other people’s food using those same, dog-licked fingers, I was awfully glad that I had ordered only coffee. And further, the driver pulled away with that same furry face peeking out the driver’s window, meaning it was in the driver’s lap. I do hope dog and pet- parent weren’t going far.
Continue reading “The New “Pethood””Tag: lifestyle
Black Friday . . . . . . Month
Some time ago, I wrote about the “Black Friday” phenomenon. Yes, it started as a shopping binge the day after Thanksgiving. People would be up all night, waiting for stores to open at ungodly hours. Then, in a manner not unlike a scene from the French Revolution, they’d enter the store or the mall. It was literally a frenzy. Later, when the internet was in place, to extend the joy of buying, and home delivery was catching on and Amazon thrust itself forward to fill that void, the marketing wizards invented “Cyber Monday.” Great deals, but online so anyone didn’t like to interact with other shoppers didn’t have to. Our purchases would be delivered right to our front door, where delivery people would snap a picture and send it to us before roaming bands of “porch thieves” would snatch them and run, trying valiantly to evade security cameras. Yes, here we are again, at that truly magical time of year, guilted into shopping, planning, making lists, running out of money, etc. etc.
Continue reading “Black Friday . . . . . . Month”Ghosts of Halloween
Yes, it’s that time of year again. I’ll say this again, as I get older, there’s less and less appeal for Halloween. No, I don’t dress up any more. I haven’t for sixty-plus years. I’ve mentioned this before, but for my colorful neighbor, this is the high point of her year. She has elaborate costumes and hangs all kinds of spider webs and lighting to entertain the visiting gremlins. It’s like a really creepy Christmas display in oranges. For Her Ladyship and myself, the excitement has long gone. I can’t always conceal my lack of enthusiasm. The smile and warmth at the front door are entirely fake. Really just want to say, “Take the candy and go away.” The pandemic, which was, of course, horrific, did have a tiny silver lining. It was, for me at least, a welcome respite from all of the Halloween activities.
Continue reading “Ghosts of Halloween”I want 5 minutes alone with . . . . .
Yes, yes. We all know how much brilliant inventors and engineers have contributed to our lifestyles and well-being. Their knowledge, skill, and inspiration are, well, inspirational. In full disclosure, though, they’ve also had some lapses that drive us nuts. On occasion, I’ve written to the manufacturers with simple requests to dismiss or lock up the minds that created some of their products, reinforcing my reputation as a GOM (grumpy old man). It happens, but it’s all for our collective good.
Continue reading “I want 5 minutes alone with . . . . .”
I'm Thinking...No! 